Real Madrid’s Ballon d’Or Winner Admits He Was Close to Joining Liverpool

Portuguese football legend Luis Figo, the 2000 Ballon d’Or winner, recently revealed he came very close to signing with Liverpool in 2005.

Figo, one of the world’s finest wingers in the late 1990s and early 2000s, made headlines with his controversial transfer from Barcelona to arch-rivals Real Madrid, earning him the label of “traitor” among Catalan fans. Despite starring in La Liga and later Serie A, the Premier League remained a gap in his illustrious career. However, Figo disclosed that a move to Liverpool was nearly on the cards.

In an interview with The Guardian, Figo shared: “I really wanted to go to Liverpool. We had several discussions. One week they’d say, ‘Hold on,’ then they signed another player. A few days later, it was ‘Wait a bit longer,’ and another signing happened. I thought, ‘Are you guys messing with me?’ Then Inter came along, I met President Moratti, and decided to go to Milan. It was what I needed at the time, and I fell in love with Inter immediately.”

Though Figo didn’t name names, British media reports suggest Liverpool’s signings of Boudewijn “Bolo” Zenden from Middlesbrough and Mark González from Albacete—both wingers who would have competed with Figo—derailed the potential transfer.

Missed Opportunity at Anfield

Zenden, a Dutch midfielder, went on to make 47 appearances for Liverpool, playing a key role in their run to the 2007 Champions League final before moving to Marseille and Sunderland. Meanwhile, Chilean star Mark González faced work permit issues, leading to a loan spell at Real Sociedad before returning to play 36 matches for Liverpool. Though González left little lasting impact, his signing was pivotal in indirectly blocking Figo’s Premier League move.

Frustrated by the delays, Figo opted for Inter Milan, where he thrived, winning four consecutive Serie A titles over four years at San Siro, proving he remained a top-tier star in the twilight of his career.

A “What If” for Liverpool Fans

Looking back, many Liverpool supporters still lament the missed chance to sign Figo. Even past his prime, he was among Europe’s elite, and his arrival could have added a fascinating chapter to the “Reds’” story in the post-2005 Istanbul era. While Figo found success at Inter, the near-miss with Liverpool remains a tantalizing “what if” for the Anfield faithful.