Liverpool have had their fair share of elite centre-backs during their time but they could have had another.

The Reds have always been known for their attacking style of football and some of their options in the final third have been nothing short of spectacular.

However, for all the credit they have received in attack, the players in defence also deserve some plaudits, even if it has been the weaker area at points in time.

Fresh off the back of that famous night in Istanbul, the Reds still had a centre-back pairing of Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia, two of Liverpool’s best defenders when they were in their prime.

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However, that partnership was almost broken up by Nemanja Vidic, a player who went on to become an absolute legend at their most bitter rivals.

The Serbian has also revealed exactly what happened between him and Liverpool in 2006, leaving Gary Neville shocked.

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Vidic’s transfer from Spartak Moscow to Manchester United really shows how one small detail could change the whole of history.

Picturing him in a Liverpool shirt may be one that makes Reds fans grimace, but there is no denying that he would have been an excellent addition to the squad.

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He was so very close to joining as well, with the former player himself telling Neville what really happened between him and Liverpool in 2006 during an interview on The Overlap.

“Yes [it is true that Liverpool tried to sign me].” Vidic said.

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“We talked maybe once or twice, but nothing happened for two or three weeks.

Fergie just called me once and said ‘do you want to come and play for United?’

“I said yes and the deal was done in four days.”

This may have proven to be a very costly mistake from Benitez and no one really knows why he didn’t pursue the Serbian more, but what is known is that he significantly helped Liverpool’s rivals to be so successful, albeit indirectly.

This is not the first time the Serbian has revealed that he almost made the switch to Anfield, with his previous reasoning being that his English was not very good when he was younger.

“The first moment I was in contact with the club [Man United] was December 2005, but at the time Liverpool was also involved,” Vidic said on the Rio Ferdinand presents podcast back in April 2023.

“I spoke with Rafa Benitez, and he was the one who was first in touch with me when I was at Spartak Moscow.

“My English was not good; my wife Ana was actually talking to him because my English was not great.

And then he didn’t call me back for two or three weeks!”

It has certainly proven to be a costly mistake as Vidic turned out to be one of the greatest centre-backs in Premier League history, although the only silver lining is that we would never have got those Fernando Torres moments if he did indeed join.


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