Via echo
Nicolas Anelka, a player who moved 13 times during his playing days, there was one in particular he felt should have been where his roots were placed down
It was December 2001 when the France international striker joined Liverpool on a mid-season loan from Paris Saint-Germain.
Anelka made the Reds his fifth club by the age of 22.
For reasons that are still to be publicly detailed, the dream would be dashed. An official club statement confirmed the decision, saying:
"After a lot of thought we've decided not to make Nicolas Anelka's move from Paris St Germain a permanent one.
"This was a difficult decision and we know that Nicolas will be very disappointed, but the manager has always had to do what he thinks is best for the club and the development of the team."
Houllier would later say: "I don't want to expose the reasons why I didn't want to sign him, but I think he knows why and it has nothing to do with football." Rumours over his brothers, who were acting as his representatives, and their questionable demands swirled, something which the late, great Houllier briefly addressed in 2015. "I wish I had kept Nicolas Anelka," he said. "But his brothers didn’t help him."
Speaking in his 'Misunderstood' documentary that was released in 2020, the player famously nicknamed 'le Sulk' for his broody temperament explained why he thought Liverpool was the place for him.
Anelka
"Liverpool fans think I didn't want to stay," he said. "They need to know that that wasn't the case. That episode was tragic for me. It's a club where I could have done great things. I did well, they played the game I was looking for and the atmosphere was good. For me there was no question, but obviously that did not suit Mr Houllier."
It's fair to label the decision not to sign Anelka as one of the great missteps of 21st century Liverpool. Or, more specifically, his choice of replacement was.
It's 21 years today since El-Hadji Diouf was given the nod over Anelka.
once Diouf pitched up at Anfield, however!!!
Six goals were scored across his two full seasons with the Reds, a third of which came on his debut in a win over Southampton.
He remains, to this day, the only No.9 at Liverpool to go through an entire season without a goal.
Jamie Carragher
The worst [team-mate I had] has to be El Hadji Diouf,"
"Actually, I quite enjoyed playing against him as you could kick him then – can’t kick your own players."
On an occasion it is said Diouf had altercation with Everton supporters in another city-centre bar. After hearing enough of the goading from Blues fans as he tried to use the gents,
Diouf's explosive response - using expletive-ridden phrases unsuitable for print - almost caused a riot, according to those who were there.
A penny for Nicolas Anelka's thoughts.
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