The former international striker was gutted that his permanent move to Liverpool failed to materialise
Nicolas Anelka of Liverpool in action in the AXA FA Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Birmingham City at Anfield, Liverpool.
Anelka joined on loan from PSG(Image: Clive Brunskill/ALLSPORT)
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Former Liverpool striker Nicolas Anelka admitted that not signing for the Reds on a permanent deal from PSG is his biggest regret. The Reds are currently in another transfer tussle with the French giants for their winger Bradley Barcola, with the European champions believed to want £145million for the World Cup star.
While the future for Barcola and Liverpool is uncertain, Anelka is sure that his scuppered move to Anfield will stick with him. The former Arsenal striker made a surprise loan switch from PSG to Anfield in December 2001 where he scored five goals in 22 appearances.
However, the Liverpool hierarchy opted not to make the Frenchman's move permanent later that summer. Instead, they signed El Hadji Diouf, who had just impressed for Senegal at the 2002 World Cup. As it turned out, Liverpool's decision to choose Diouf over Anelka has become one of the club's biggest errors in their recent history.
While Diouf toiled, scoring six goals across two seasons and becoming embroiled in a series of controversies, Anelka joined Manchester City, where he scored 45 goals in three seasons.
The French forward told the ECHO in 2020: “This is my biggest regret as well because I knew it was the perfect match. Everything was perfect! I loved everything about the club. I had an amazing relationship with the fans. I loved them and I think it was reciprocal.
“Looking back, I am proud to have worn the jersey of this legendary club and to have known this stadium and these amazing fans.”
The 47-year-old played for 12 different teams during his senior career. Despite his stint at Liverpool being the shortest, his affection is palpable and he opened up on why the move didn't happen.
Nicolas Anelka of Liverpool celebrates his goal during the AXA FA Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Birmingham City at Anfield, Liverpool.
Nicolas Anelka has spoken often of his short stint at Liverpool(Image: Clive Brunskill/ Getty Images)
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“It’s simple: it didn’t happen because Gerard Houllier wanted to pay a lower salary,” he said. “It’s acceptable but you have to say it. I wanted to sign from the first minute. Of course a permanent move was discussed from the first day I joined the club.
“If you look at the first time they introduced me in the press conference, I said if I could sign now, I would, but Gerard Houllier wanted a loan because he was not sure. In the middle of March, we were in negotiations to sign.
“PSG shareholder Alain Cayzac said to me Gerard told him that Liverpool would sign me. Later on, Gerard told me face-to-face he’d sign me permanently.
“In the middle of April we reached an agreement about the salary, which had stalled things a little, but I was expecting to sign my contract when the league was over but there was no news from PSG and no news from Liverpool.
“I heard on the news that Gerard Houllier was after another player so that’s how I knew they were not going to sign me!”
Former Liverpool assistant manager Phil Thompson, who was serving as interim manager when Anelka joined the club, due to Houllier's recovery from a heart operation, said the reason the club decided against signing the Frenchman was that his representatives had tried to engineer a move back to Arsenal.
“I heard about this Arsenal story,” Anelka said. “If it was true, why didn’t I sign for Arsenal when Liverpool announced in the press they weren’t going to sign me?
Nicolas Anelka of Liverpool and Assistant Manager Phil Thompson look on
Nicolas Anelka of Liverpool and Assistant Manager Phil Thompson look on(Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
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“And even if it was true, it’s a normal situation. It’s like I’m saying I don’t wanna sign for a club because they are speaking with another striker. It makes no sense. The reality is at the time it was very easy to point the finger at me with my reputation.”
Anelka added: “I loved my time with Phil Thompson, more so than Gerard Houllier. Phil Thompson was a typical Scouser. Direct and straight. He’ll tell you what he likes and when he doesn’t like it, you would know. This is exactly what I want and what I like from people.
“I know if Phil was the manager I would have signed and stayed many years but fate chose otherwise and I had to take another path to find a big club.”
Anelka went on to play for Chelsea, Bolton and West Brom in England and the likes of Fenerbahce and Juventus across Europe. With Chelsea, he won the Premier League, two FA Cups and played in the Champions League final defeat to Manchester United in 2008.
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