10 Liverpool Players Who Nearly Signed for Man United

3. Javier Mascherano

Javier Mascherano is certainly known in Manchester United circles. Sent off at Old Trafford in 2008, and dedicating Barcelona's 2011 Champions League final triumph over the Mancunians to the Liverpool faithful, he is certainly no stranger to courting controversy from the Red Devils. A firm Anfield favourite he may have become, he had Sir Alex Ferguson sniffing around him before his forays into English football with West Ham in 2006. With Alan Pardew somehow gazumping Europe's elitist clubs to the signatures of 22 year olds Mascherano and compatriot Carlos Tevez following the 2006 World Cup, Manchester United were quick to wear their face-saving mask, rebuffing any notion that they were interested in the pair.

''We were never interested in Tevez. We were also offered Mascherano but we didn't want to go for him. We were offered Mascherano for a significant sum at the start of the summer and also last week on a loan deal. We had watched him last season but the manager and his staff didn't want to pursue him. While he is clearly a very good player, it was decided he wasn't required at the club.'' - Manchester United chief executive David Gill, September 2006.

However, according to the Argentine dynamo, it was at his own behest that the move never materialised, having spoken with former Old Trafford flop Juan Sebastian Veron.

''I have spoken with Veron and he told me that Ferguson does not have much belief in Argentinian players, so I was reluctant. I know Gabriel Heinze is there, but Veron has some different stories.'' - Javier Mascherano, June 2007.

In this case, it's simply a question of whose version of events do you believe?