Nemanja Vidic has opened up on a failed transfer to Liverpool before signing for their arch rivals Manchester United in 2006 when Rafa Benitez decided not to phone the Serbian back.
Vidic spent eight years at Old Trafford between 2006 and 2014; winning five Premier League titles in addition to three League Cup medals and the Champions League in 2008. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest centre-backs to have played in England during the Premier League era.
However, the 41-year-old did not always have things his own way against Liverpool and it appears as though the Reds passed up their own opportunity to sign him. Vidic arrived Old Trafford mid-season from Russian side Spartak Moscow - for €10.5m - only weeks after chatting to Benitez over the telephone. Well, almost.
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Speaking with Rio Ferdinand during an in-depth interview on his FIVE podcast, Vidic said: "The first moment I was in contact with the club [United] was December 2005. But at the time Liverpool were also involved.
"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.
"Rafa was asking me if I want to come to England and certain things, everything was great, and then he didn't call me back for two or three weeks. Fergie [Sir Alex Ferguson] obviously got in touch..."
Vidic, 41, added: "He called and said; 'I've been looking at you for the last six months to a year, I like the way you play. I think you'll be good for the club. Do you want to join?' I said of course. He said; 'Everything will be settled' and then in one week I was in Manchester."
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