Real Madrid wonderkid Rodrygo’s old manager reveals Liverpool tried to sign him before Bernabeu transfer
LIVERPOOL desperately tried to sign Rodrygo before he joined Real Madrid, according to his former Santos boss Elano Blumer.
The Brazilian coach has revealed the Reds were keen to sign the youngster, 18, back when he was still playing in Brazil.
But Rodrygo - being called a "gift from the sky" by Spanish press after his scintillating Champions League hat-trick - instead took the chance to head to Madrid, with Blumer convincing Los Blancos he was the Real deal.
Blumer told ESPN: "There was strong interest from Liverpool for the kid when he was in the youth teams and they wanted him, but the offer was low.
"Then the offer arrived from Real Madrid. I had a chat with the club and I told them the kid was worth gambling on and that I would like to work with him."
And Blumer is hardly surprised at how quickly £40million buy Rodrygo has settled into life at the Bernabeu, having scored five times in just six matches this season.
Looking back at their time working together, Blumer said: "He already had this ability at a young age.
"There are very few players that are like that when they're so young. He's already mature and has a personality to his game.
"He's technically gifted and he's got great control with his movements. Therefore, he took no time settling into the Santos first team."
Rodrygo scored on his La Liga debut earlier this season in a 2-0 win over Osasuna, before adding another in the 5-0 drubbing of Leganes just over a week ago.
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But it was his stunning hat-trick against Galatasaray in Real's 6-0 win that really got people talking.
Marca dedicated their front page to the teenager with the headline: "Rodrygo lights up the Bernabeu."
Fellow capital publication AS liken his "irruption" to that of Raul and Emilio Butragueno - calling him a gift "fallen from the sky".