Wesley Sneijder was linked with Premier League clubs for much of his career, and the Dutchman has now revealed that Liverpool came the closest to snagging him
Wesley Sneijder drawing Liverpool in the Champions League draw ceremony
Wesley Sneijder has opened up about nearly joining Liverpool
(Image: Getty Images)
For years, Wesley Sneijder was the Premier League's great 'what-if.' The Dutch midfield magician, a legend at Inter Milan and key figure for the Netherlands, was endlessly linked with a move to England throughout his illustrious career.
Both Liverpool and Manchester United came close to signing him, but a move never materialised. At his peak, Sneijder was a maestro of creativity and precision - with his masterful technique and eye for goal making him one of Europe's most sought-after talents, particularly after orchestrating Inter's historic Treble and playing a central role in the Netherlands' run to the World Cup final in 2010.
While United's interest in him that summer has been well documented, it was Liverpool who came closest to landing the playmaker two years later. "When I was leaving Inter, I was speaking to Liverpool - but I had to make a decision between Liverpool and Galatasaray," Sneijder told the Mirror, via BetMGM.
"At that time, I was considering both. But when you look at my career, all the teams I have played for were playing for something, playing for the title, always in the top three of the league.
"And at that time, Liverpool were not as great as they are now. Galatasaray was a completely new experience. A different culture, and playing for prizes. So I chose them over Liverpool."
That decision almost came back to haunt him. The following season, Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool came heartbreakingly close to Premier League glory - a campaign remembered as much for thrilling football as for Steven Gerrard's infamous slip against Chelsea.
Wesley Sneijder on the ball for Real Madrid vs Liverpool
Wesley Sneijder nearly joined Liverpool in 2012(Image: Getty Images)
Meanwhile, in Turkey, Sneijder was racking up silverware, guiding Galatasaray to two Super Lig triumphs and lifting three Turkish Cups among eight major trophies. Still, the allure of the Premier League never fully dissipated.
Sneijder also opened up about how close he came to signing for Manchester United in 2010 - a transfer that fell through for reasons he only discovered years later. By chance, his father bumped into Sir Alex Ferguson in Manchester, and the legendary manager revealed the hidden truth behind the collapsed deal.
"I didn't know the reason - I didn't ask my agent. He just said they [United] didn't call anymore and I believed it," Sneijder explained. "But many years later, like five or six years later, my father was in Manchester with a friend of his, and they walked into a place where Sir Alex Ferguson was.
Wesley Sneijder playing against Manchester United for Galatasaray
Sneijder (L) also came close to joining Man United
"And he spoke to my father and he said he was interested in me, that he wanted to sign me, but that there was a problem with the agent. So that was the problem - which I didn't know before. That's the information I have now.
"Obviously, it would have been a great move. After winning everything to go to a big club like Man United would have been amazing. But also, I had a great time at Inter Milan, and after that I had a great move to Galatasaray... it just didn't happen."
Sneijder, now 40, began his professional journey at Ajax, where he developed into one of Europe's standout young midfielders. A high-profile switch to Real Madrid followed in 2007, and he claimed a La Liga title in his first season.
Sneijder
Sneijder was targeted by English clubs for several years, but a move to the Premier League never materialised
However, when Madrid launched their second Galacticos era - headlined by Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso - Sneijder was squeezed out in 2009.
But revenge came swiftly. Under Jose Mourinho's leadership, Sneijder inspired Inter Milan to an iconic Treble, including a Champions League final win over Bayern Munich - at the Bernabeu, no less.
After collecting six major honours in less than four years in Italy, he headed to Galatasaray, and later had spells with Nice and Al-Gharafa in Qatar. On the international stage, Sneijder became the Netherlands' most capped player, appearing 134 times, and featuring in six major tournaments.
Wesley Sneijder holding the Champions League trophy
Wesley Sneijder's crowning achievement came in 2010 where he fired Inter to an historic Treble
His crowning achievement came in South Africa, where he led his country to the 2010 World Cup final, finished joint-top scorer, and was awarded the Silver Ball as the second-best player in the tournament.
Despite never gracing Anfield in red, Sneijder remains a figure of fascination for Liverpool fans - a 'what-could-have-been' etched into the club's transfer folklore.
His career, shaped by trophies near-misses, was driven by an unshakeable desire to win - and though Liverpool missed out on him because of that, his decision to chase success in the fervent footballing cauldrons of Milan and Istanbul over England's uncertain promises proved his instinct for winning was as sharp as his playmaking.