Former Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek has revealed how his move to Anfield led to a phone call from an infuriated Arsene Wenger.
Arsenal came close to signing the former Poland international from Feyenoord in 2001 but failed in their approach before Dudek eventually made the move to Liverpool.
Dudek went on to help the Reds win the Champions League in 2005, with the keeper playing a vital role in their astonishing comeback in Istanbul as he saved from Andrea Pirlo and Andriy Shevchenko in the penalty shootout.
But things could have been much different for him had Wenger got his way just four years prior to that.
And in FourFourTwo’s summer 2020 edition, Dudek has revealed that the former Gunners boss was left less than impressed by his move to Merseyside.
"Arsene Wenger called me, and he was furious," said Dudek.
"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."
