• Premier League

Carragher: Liverpool tried to sign Vidic

ESPN staff
October 11, 2014
Nemanja Vidic won five Premier Leagues and the Champions League before moving to Inter Milan in the summer © PA Photos
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Jamie Carragher has revealed that Liverpool tried to sign Nemanja Vidic in 2006.

The Serbian defender went on to join Manchester United instead, become captain at Old Trafford and win five Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League for Liverpool's bitter rivals.

But he could have been partnering Carragher at the heart of Rafa Benitez's defence.

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Carragher, who retired in 2013 after making 737 appearances for Liverpool, wrote in his Daily Mail column: "My type of defender. Liverpool tried to buy him in January 2006 but our loss was United's gain. I'd have loved to have played alongside him and I'm sure we could have formed a solid partnership.

"He loves defending and putting his head in where it hurts. His arrival took [Rio] Ferdinand's performances up another level. They became the best defensive pairing in Europe."

Vidic cost United £6.75 million when he joined from Spartak Moscow in January 2006. He went on to make 300 appearances in eight-and-a-half years at Old Trafford before leaving to join Inter Milan this summer.

While Liverpool only finished above United in the last of Vidic's nine seasons in England, the defender endured more mixed fortunes against the Reds and was sent-off three times when facing them.

When Liverpool failed to get Vidic, Benitez moved instead for Daniel Agger, who also departed in the summer after eight-and-a-half years in the Premier League.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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