Why Rodrygo Rejected Liverpool for Real Madrid Dream: Facing Former Suitors in Champions League Clash
Real Madrid forward Rodrygo revealed the reason behind his surprising decision to reject a transfer to Liverpool in 2017.
A Lucrative Offer from Liverpool
The young Brazilian forward, then playing for Santos in his home country, attracted interest from European giants. Liverpool offered a tempting €3 million transfer fee, along with a clear path for his development in England.
Following a Dream
However, Rodrygo prioritized his desire to stay at Santos and make a name for himself with the club. “I wanted to stay at Santos and make a bit of history at the club,” he explained. “And that’s what happened: I was able to fulfil my dream of playing for Santos.”
While acknowledging the positive aspects of Liverpool’s offer, including the chance to complete his studies in England, Rodrygo’s ambition to succeed with Santos ultimately won out.
Facing Former Suitors in the Champions League
Rodrygo is now set to face familiar foes as Real Madrid prepares to take on Manchester City in the Champions League quarterfinals. This matchup brings back memories of Rodrygo’s impressive performance against Manchester City in the 2022 Champions League semifinals.

“It brings back good memories but also bad ones,” he said about the draw. “This was an opponent that, to be honest, we didn’t want to face. And they think the same as well: they didn’t want to play against us.”
Despite acknowledging the strength of Manchester City, the reigning Champions League winners, Rodrygo expresses confidence in his team’s ability to compete.
“They’re the Champions League winners, they’re the world champions, today they’re the best team in the world, so we have total respect for them,” he said. “But our team is also very strong. It’s going to be good to meet them again.”
The first leg of this highly anticipated Champions League quarter-final tie will be played at Real Madrid’s home stadium on Tuesday. Rodrygo will be hoping to play a key role after his recent impressive performance against Athletic Club, where he scored a winning brace.