Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has revealed the club considered making a move for Gareth Bale during his time at the club.
Bale became football’s most expensive player when he moved to Real Madrid from Tottenham in 2013 having established himself as a world class talent at White Hart Lane.
It could have been so different for the Welshman, however, after Carragher admitted that, while at Southampton, he attracted interest from then-Reds boss Rafa Benitez.
Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, Carragher wrote: "He has come so far since making his way at Southampton.
"When he broke into their team, Rafa Benitez looked at signing him for Liverpool.
"Bale was playing as a left back then and Rafa didn't think he was any better than John Arne Riise, so he never pursued it."
Bale, 26, has become a key player for Real Madrid this season under Benitez, with no player bettering his 3 assists in La Liga so far.
For more stats on Gareth Bale, click here to view his WhoScored player page
