Steven Gerrard has told Liverpool he wants to leave the club. His decision comes after Anfield chief executive Rick Parry rejected Chelsea’s bid of around £30m.
A Liverpool statement said: “The club has made it crystal clear we want to keep Steven at Anfield. Sadly, he has told us this afternoon that he will not accept our offer of an improved and extended contract because he wants to leave Liverpool.
“We very much regret the decision he has taken.”
Chief executive Rick Parry added: “We desperately want to keep Stevie and we’ve told him we don’t want him to leave. However, in rejecting our offer of a new contract he has indicated he wants to go.”
But where does he want to go — Chelsea or Real Madrid? Bernabeu director of football Arrigo Sacchi said on Monday: “Of course we are interested in him, what big club isn’t?”
Sacchi went on to suggest that Gerrard would have to hand in a formal transfer request before Real submits a bid, which is blatantly nonsense — though to all intents and purposes Gerrard’s done just that today.
Let the bidding war begin.
Gerrard statement · Update
“The last six weeks have been the toughest of my life. The decision I have come to has been the hardest decision I have ever had to make.
“I fully intended to sign a new contract after the Champions League final but the events of the past five or six weeks have changed all that.
“I have too much respect for the club and the people at it to get involved in a slanging match.”
Betting on Gerrard’s club next season · Update
Steven Gerrard is 2/5 to be a Chelsea player on the first day of the Premiership season say bookmakers William Hill who make him 2/1 to be at Real Madrid by then; 10/1 still to be at Liverpool and 14/1 to have joined any other club.
Related links:
- Gerrard confirms he will quit Liverpool
- Chelsea’s clout has Real on back foot
- Gerrard’s tale of the unexpected brings old Anfield nightmare to life
- Gerrard’s desire for title overrides loyalty
- Liverpool target Duff as Gerrard cuts ties
- Gerrard move to prompt England rethink
- Gerrard walks out on furious Liverpool
- Mourinho’s masterplan for Europe could leave Cole in cold
