Liverpool missed chance to sign Real Madrid star for just £2.5m after Jurgen Klopp 'discovered' him on YouTube

Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp missed out on signing a Real Madrid star for £2.5m in 2017, according to reports.

At the time, Madrid won the 2016/17 La Liga title, while Klopp’s Liverpool side finished fourth in the Premier League.

That summer, the Reds were in the market for a winger and were in “advanced talks” to sign a then-Santos star.

According to the Mirror, Klopp discovered the player on YouTube before pursuing him.

The report suggests the German had travelled to meet the player in Brazil after being impressed by the footage online.

Rodrygo did not join the Reds and has gone on to play 231 times for Madrid, winning two Champions Leagues, three La Ligas and a Copa del Rey - just to name a few of the triumphs in the famous white shirt.

His former agent, Elano, explained the situation in 2020.

"He had gone on YouTube, searched 'talents from Brazil', Rodrygo had appeared, and he was very young,” he told Canal do Nicola.

“He [Jurgen Klopp] came to Brazil and liked him. They contacted me, the Liverpool director wanted him to be his first signing, Rodrygo."

However, he explained how the deal fell through before the Brazilian joined Madrid in 2019 for a fee of £37m.

Rodrygo almost signed for Liverpool (Credit:Getty)

And ironically, the place where he signed his Los Blancos contract rubbed salt in Liverpool’s wounds.

Ahead of the 2018 World Cup, Brazil played a warm-up game against Croatia at Anfield.

The likes of Neymar and Roberto Firmino were the stars of the show, but Rodrygo signed his Madrid contract in a hospitality box inside the stadium on the same day, according to the Mirror’s report.

Liverpool will play host to Madrid on Wednesday evening, but the 23-year-old will likely not feature due to an injury he sustained against Osasuna earlier this month.

The player previously discussed his failed move to Liverpool in April 2024.

“We didn’t close the deal because I didn’t want to,” he told the Guardian.

“I wanted to stay at Santos even though the offer was very good. The pathway they promised me would also have been very good for my career. I was going to finish my studies in England to prepare for European football.

“It had always been my dream to play in Europe. Everything was very good, but my desire spoke louder.

"I wanted to stay at Santos and make a bit of history at the club. And that’s what happened: I was able to fulfil my dream of playing for Santos. But it’s true, I almost went to Liverpool.”