Jerzy Dudek has revealed how his move to Liverpool ended in a furious phone call from Arsene Wenger.
The Pole moved to Anfield in 2001 from Feyenoord for just over £5m and was vital in their 2005 Champions League triumph.
But prior to that he came close to joining Arsenal before his price tag curtailed the deal.
Dudek was keen to take on a new challenge having spent five years in Rotterdam.
Gerard Houllier managed to secure his services for less than Arsenal offered which meant Dudek received an angry phone call from Wenger.
"Arsene Wenger called me, and he was furious," Dudek told the Liverpool Echo.
"He was nearly yelling. I’d joined Liverpool, not Arsenal. After five years with Feyenoord, I was ready for a fresh challenge. That summer, I’d spent a couple of days in London and Wenger showed me Highbury and the training ground.
"It was a beautiful visit – we agreed terms and shook hands. I went back to Rotterdam, then Wenger phoned me. ‘I’m really sorry,’ he said. ‘Feyenoord want £10million and we don’t pay that amount of money, not even for a striker’. The deal was off, and I was angry.
"Then three matches into the new season, Liverpool came in and I moved to Anfield – for £5.75m. ‘What the hell is going on?’ Wenger asked me when he called. ‘I offered £7.5m and Feyenoord said no!’ I said, ‘I’m sorry – I had nothing to do with it’. Joining Liverpool was meant to be."
At Anfield Dudek won the FA Cup and League Cup alongside their memorable European triumph.
But that night in Istanbul proved to be his last game as Liverpool's No 1 as Rafa Benitez signed Pepe Reina that summer.
