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Steven Gerrard said ‘my family would never get out of Liverpool’ if he joined Man United, claims Gary Neville – who tried to convince him – after he u-turned on Chelsea transfer over threatening letters

  • Neville said he approached Gerrard over a transfer to Man United in 2004
  • Gerrard had been considering whether to leave Liverpool for Chelsea at the time
  • Luis Suarez is FOURTH in Ian Ladyman’s top 5 Liverpool strikers… but who else makes the list? Listen to It’s All Kicking Off 

Gary Neville has claimed Steven Gerrard expressed fears over the safety of his family if he joined arch-rivals Manchester United from Liverpool.

Neville speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, said he has been instructed by Sir Alex Ferguson to attempt convince Gerrard to sign for the Red Devils.

The approach came around 2004 with Neville speaking to Gerrard about a potential transfer while on international duty.

Gerrard at the time had been considering a £30million-plus move to join Chelsea, a switch which would have doubled his wages.

Neville claimed Gerrard rejected the idea ‘pretty quickly’, citing concerns over the safety of his family in Liverpool if he made the transfer.   

Gary Neville claimed he had spoken to Steven Gerrard about a move to Man United in 2004

Gary Neville claimed he had spoken to Steven Gerrard about a move to Man United in 2004

Neville claimed Gerrard quickly rejected the potential move due to concerns for his family

Neville claimed Gerrard quickly rejected the potential move due to concerns for his family

The former Man United star made the approach to Gerrard on international duty with England

The former Man United star made the approach to Gerrard on international duty with England

‘Stevie told this in his book, where I went into his room with England and asked him to sign for Manchester United,’ Neville said. 

‘I was meeting up with England for the Euros, and he [Sir Alex Ferguson] rang me and said it’s ambitious, but his words were, ‘Tell him I’ll go and fetch him, and I’ll walk him back down the East Lancs’.

‘I went to see Stevie, and he quite categorically [rejected it] pretty quickly. 

‘He said he would never get out of Liverpool and his family would never get out of Liverpool.’

Gerrard ultimately u-turned on a potential move to Stamford Bridge due to the pressure his family faced on Merseyside.

This included receiving threatening phone calls and letters, as well as abuse in local newspapers and websites.

The abuse had raised concerns his close relatives living in the city could have faced further abuse had he completed a move away from Anfield. 

Gerrard led Liverpool to a famous Champions League triumph against AC Milan the following season. 

Gerrard, pictured with his wife Alex, had u-turned on a move to Chelsea after his family had received a series of threats

Gerrard, pictured with his wife Alex, had u-turned on a move to Chelsea after his family had received a series of threats

The Liverpool legend lifted the Champions League in Istanbul a year after deciding to stay at Anfield

The Liverpool legend lifted the Champions League in Istanbul a year after deciding to stay at Anfield

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, with a show every Monday and Thursday this season.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify

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The Liverpool captain was key to their stirring fightback from 3-0 down in Istanbul.

He again flirted with a move away from the club by submitting a transfer request in the summer of 2005, weeks after lifting the Champions League.

Gerrard later admitted that he had considered going to Chelsea due to frustration at how far Liverpool had been away from the Premier League title races at the time.

He claimed success at Liverpool would have meant more than winning titles elsewhere.

‘It would mean an awful lot more to be successful at Liverpool than it would at any other club,’ Gerrard said.

‘Don’t get me wrong, I might have won more medals somewhere else but if I was to win the league here, along with a few more cups, that would mean a lot more than winning seven or eight trophies somewhere else.

‘I can share it with my family, with the Liverpool supporters because I’ve been one of them all my life.’

Gerrard ultimately signed a contract extension in 2005 and remained at Anfield for a further decade, cementing his legendary status at the club.


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