"We didn't close the deal [with Liverpool] because I didn't want to. 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," Rodrygo has told The Guardian.
"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 fulfill my dream of playing for Santos. But it's true, I almost went to Liverpool," he added.
That move would've taken place in 2017 when Liverpool had offered €3m for the Brazilian. Rodrygo was still a rising talent, just 16 years of age, so he was actually affordable for that fee.
The forward became a more prominent name in the next two years before he joined Real Madrid for €45m in 2019.
