Steven Gerrard Talks Toni Kroos, Willian, Mario Balotelli, More in New Book
Ex-Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has revealed he did his utmost to help Liverpool land Willian and Toni Kroos, sending personal messages to each of the players in an attempt to get the pair to sign for the Reds.
The Anfield icon's new book, My Story, is being serialised by the Daily Mail. In Monday's extracts, Gerrard discussed the faults of Mario Balotelli, as well as naming Xabi Alonso and Jamie Carragher as his potential assistants should he one day manage Liverpool.
But it’s his efforts to help secure two world-class talents that will intrigue Liverpool supporters.
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The first was Willian, whom Gerrard claimed he had got in touch with about a potential move. He then revealed how the subsequent conversation went after the Brazil international stated there were some of European football’s biggest names keen on signing him:
"I went in with my sales pitch. ‘I think Liverpool would be a great move for you. The fans are amazing, the history is there and we’re building a good team. You could do something great here—- and we’d love to have you.’ ...
The next text from Willian was so obvious I could have written it for him even before I read it. He again said that it would be great to play in the same team as me but ‘I’m not sure Liverpool can give me the Champions League.’ He went to Chelsea.
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Kroos was also a target of one of Gerrard’s sales pitches. The midfielder claimed manager Brendan Rodgers asked him to try and convince the Germany international to sign for the Reds, a prospect Gerrard himself describes as “ridiculously optimistic.”
However, the Los Angeles Galaxy man noted, “God loves a trier, and so I gave it a whirl. ... Kroos didn’t make me feel like I was a total idiot. But of course, he would soon sign for Real Madrid. We had a nice little exchange of texts and I said well done and good luck.”
Football writer Richard Buxton thinks the fact Liverpool asked Gerrard to get involved with potential transfers should be a concern for the Reds:
Liverpool did spend plenty of money following the sale of Luis Suarez, and one of the players who was drafted in was Mario Balotelli.
The Italian signed in a £16 million move from AC Milan in what Rodgers told Gerrard was “a bit of a gamble” after the club missed out on some other key targets. “My instant reaction was, ‘Uh-oh,’” said the former Reds midfielder. Balotelli infamously only scored one Premier League goal with Liverpool in 2014-15 and is now back on loan with the Rossoneri.
It’s noted by Gerrard that on his first day at the club, the Italy international stated, “I don’t mark on corners. I can’t.” Still, there was no animosity between the two, with Gerrard praising the talent Balotelli possesses; although he claimed the Azzurri star would never make it to the very top because of his poor attitude:
"I could see Mourinho had been right when he said Balotelli is unmanageable. He is very talented with the potential to be world class, but he’ll never get there because of his mentality and the people around him.
Balotelli’s always late, he always wants attention, he says the wrong things on social media.
For me, he doesn’t work hard enough on a daily basis. You’re always fighting a losing battle with Balotelli. He does too many things wrong.
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Gerrard also looks to the future in his book and talks about the prospect of going back to Liverpool one day to be the club’s manager. It’s a role the 35-year-old admits he’s unsure he’s ready for currently, but he insisted that provided he surrounds himself with the right people, he’d do a good job.
Intriguingly, Gerrard chooses two major figures from his playing days as those he’d love to have alongside him in the Anfield dugout. “I know who I’d love to have as my assistant: Xabi Alonso or Jamie Carragher,” he revealed. “They are very intelligent, have a deep knowledge of football and are special men.”
Gerrard also outlined his intentions to spend some time working with the “top managers” such as Rodgers, Roy Hodgson, Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger. The prospect of doing some work with Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola is also something that clearly appeals to the ex-England man. “I’d love spending a week watching Pep work,” Gerrard writes.
The insight into Liverpool’s transfer dealings is a remarkable one but, in the same breath, may pose some concerns going forward. After all, if the Reds can’t attract players such as Willian and Kroos with Gerrard championing their cause, how will they fare in similar pursuits without him in their corner?
The Reds icon will surely return to Liverpool as the top man one day, and the prospect of seeing him work alongside Carragher or Alonso again is sure to the delight the Kop. But with Gerrard still looking to make an impression in Major League Soccer, an Anfield reunion looks a fair way off at this point.
