10 Liverpool Players Who Nearly Signed for Man United

7. Craig Bellamy

A spiky and volatile character, it's fair to say that Craig Bellamy has caused consternation wherever he has gone. At Anfield, he was involved in that infamous golf swing altercation with team-mate John Arne Riise, but in typical Bellamy fashion, the supporters still took him to their hearts for his passionate, never-say-die style of play. However, despite having taken in two spells at Liverpool, and one at Manchester City, it never stopped Sir Alex Ferguson from reviving a long-standing interest in the player. By his own admission, the fiery Welshman used Ferguson's interest to secure a better deal at Newcastle during the 02/03 season. Eight years later, Ferguson's mantra of refusing to put himself in the position to be bitten twice was once again forgotten, as he returned for the services of Bellamy, then at cross-city rivals Manchester City.

''My adviser had a conversation with United in 2010, shortly before I came to Cardiff on loan. It was great to feel wanted, and I would have loved to do it, but it was never going to be allowed to happen. If Man City had agreed to it, then great. After Carlos Tevez had moved in the opposite direction the year before, I didn't expect anything to come of it.'' - Craig Bellamy, November 2013.

Having established himself as a firm fan favourite at Anfield, despite his indiscretions and public misdemeanours, surely this admission that he would have signed for their bitter rivals on a whim is a bit of a slap in the face to those who sung his name with such enthusiasm and vigour?