Liverpool were €30m short in failed move for Brazilian prodigy, says his former coach

Rodrygo TEAMtalk

Liverpool missed out on the signing of Brazilian wonderkid Rodrygo because they didn’t offer enough money, according to one of his former coaches.

The 18-year-old hat-trick scorer made Champions League history with Real Madrid on Wednesday, when he hit the fastest double ever recorded in the Champions League.

The former Santos man needed just six minutes and 14 seconds to net twice past Galatasaray as Real Madrid hammered the Turkish side 6-0.

Rodrygo could now prove to be a snip after moving to the Santiago Bernabeu over the summer from Brazilian side Santos in a deal worth around €45million.

But it could have been different for the Brazil U20 star had Liverpool put up the cash for the right winger.

In April 2018 the Daily Mail, reported that Liverpool had tracked Rodrygo for over a year, while Manchester United were also keen on the starlet.

That was prior to Real’s interest, and former Santos coach Elano admitted the Merseysider’s simply didn’t offer enough money for the player.

 

 

“There was a period when there was very strong interest from Liverpool for him to leave when he was still at base,” Elano told ESPN.

“The values ​​were very low, but they wanted to have a go. Real’s offer afterwards was around €30m more! I had a conversation with the staff and said the boy was worth the bet.”

Rodrygo grabbed his hat-trick in stoppage time against Galatasray, taking his tally to five goals in four starts for Real this season, and Elano believes there is much more to come.

“Despite his young age, he has a maturity,” he added. “I strongly believe in his football. He still has room to grow.

“His personally is pretty quiet, but things are changing. He plays in the main Brazilian team and in Real Madrid. Everything in his life will increase. He will have to take some care.”