James Milner has opened up on his decision to sign for Liverpool after leaving Man City
James Milner poses for a photo on day two of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club
James Milner poses for a photo on day two of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club (Image: 2026 Getty Images)
View Image
James Milner has revealed he rejected Manchester United in order to sign for Liverpool - admitting he disliked the Red Devils far too much to ever realistically consider joining them.
The former Liverpool vice-captain started his career at Leeds United before signing for Manchester City in 2010 after stints at Newcastle United and Aston Villa.
He then went on to join the Reds on a free transfer in 2015 and won every major honour during his eight years at Anfield.
But the 40-year-old has revealed that United tried to rival Liverpool for his signature after it became clear that he would be leaving City at the end of his contract.
READ MORE: Sporting director left stunned by Liverpool transfer after Real Madrid visit - 'Never saw that coming'
READ MORE: Jamie Carragher sends stark 'failed galacticos' warning to Liverpool - 'it was wrong'
“They did, to be fair, yeah, when I was leaving Man City,” he said when asked if Manchester United had ever tried to sign him when speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football, sponsored by Midnite. “But obviously not, no, I wouldn't have entertained it.
“Not really, no. I didn’t (hold talks with them). I think I’d made up my mind about Liverpool.
“I just couldn’t. I just couldn’t join them. I respect the club, obviously, but I’m just a Leeds fan through and through, and I dislike them.”
Milner won three Premier League titles during his time at City and Liverpool, with his arrival at the clubs coinciding with the start of trophy-laden runs for both.
And he admitted the fact that neither had been overly successful in the years prior to his arrival actually helped motivate him to move to the Etihad and Anfield respectively.
“I think that was a major decision for me going there because I could have gone, I think it was maybe Chelsea when I went to City,” he recalled. “The appeal was they hadn’t won anything for a long time and it was being part of something that started.
“So that was a big draw and it was similar to when I went to Liverpool as well really.
“It was a big decision to leave City but Liverpool, you know, a hugely successful club, huge club but not won loads in their recent history.
“To go there and try and start a new era of success and win that first Premier League title, obviously so many league titles but not won a Premier League at that point. It was mental really, for the size of the club.”
Meanwhile, Milner, who retired at the end of last season, also admitted that he would have loved to play abroad at some point in his career as he revealed part of the reason he learned to speak Spanish was in case he ever made a switch to La Liga.
“Yeah, I think that was a possibility,” he said about moving to Spain. “I like to spend a lot of time out there. I was never against it.
“It never happened in the end, I always had a good option in England where I thought it was the right move. Hopefully I always chose the right move, but it was always something where I fancied playing abroad for sure.”