Manchester United legend confirms he turned down Liverpool transfer
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Image Credits: Imago ImagesFootball is full of moments when one decision changes everything.
Fans often wonder what might have happened if a player had joined their club instead of another.
Big teams fight hard for the same stars.
A single transfer can shape titles, rivalries, and memories.
In the late 1990s, Liverpool were looking for a world-class goalkeeper to guide them back to the top.
Serie A in Italy was the place many of the best players wanted to be.
Juventus were winning trophies and were admired all over Europe.
Choosing between England and Italy at that time was not just about football.
It was about history, atmosphere, and where a player’s heart felt at home.
Supporters on Merseyside often think about those sliding-door moments.
One signing can lift a team for years.
Missing out can leave a gap that fans feel for a long time.
This is one of those stories, and it involves a name that would later become famous in English football, but not in a Liverpool shirt.
Edwin van der Sar, who later became a legend at Manchester United, has now shared how close he came to joining Liverpool before signing for Juventus.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Dutchman said, “I had two options: Liverpool or Juventus.”
“I spoke with both clubs, then my heart pushed me to Italy.”
“Serie A was the best league around back then, Juventus was an historic club and had beaten us in the Champions League final in 1996.”
He was drawn to the club’s tradition and its icons.
“I liked the Bianconero jersey, and I was intrigued by the idea of playing in a team where a legendary keeper like Dino Zoff had been the main man.”
Van der Sar spent two seasons in Turin from 1999 to 2001.
He admits it was not his peak.
“There were many changes at Juventus compared to the habits I had at Ajax,” he explained.
“I didn’t play my best football, but I don’t regret it.”
“When a striker doesn’t score, or when a goalkeeper doesn’t save goals, it’s part of the game to receive criticism.”
“But, it was a great experience to live and play in Italy.”
He also remembered how warmly he was welcomed.
“The summer I arrived, my teammates all took me out to dinner: Ferrara, Iuliano, Zidane, Inzaghi, Zambrotta, Davids.”
“We ate very well at the restaurants in Turin.”
“At the end of the nights, I’d go to take out my credit card, but I’d never be allowed to pay for anything.”
For Liverpool supporters, it is striking to hear how close they were to signing a keeper who later won everything at Old Trafford.
One choice, guided by the heart, kept a great career on a very different path.
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