The former international forward was sorely disappointed that his permanent move to Liverpool failed to materialise
Former Liverpool frontman Nicolas Anelka previously revealed he was promised a permanent transfer to the Reds from PSG before then-manager Gerard Houllier changed his mind on sanctioning the move. Liverpool are currently embroiled in yet another transfer battle with the French giants over winger Bradley Barcola, with the European champions reportedly demanding £145million for the World Cup star.
While Barcola’s future at Liverpool remains unclear, Anelka is adamant that his failed move to Anfield will haunt him forever. The ex-Arsenal forward made an unexpected loan switch from PSG to Anfield back in December 2001, netting five goals in 22 outings.
Yet Liverpool’s top brass chose not to make the Frenchman’s arrangement permanent the following summer. Instead, they opted for El Hadji Diouf, who had just caught the eye representing Senegal at the 2002 World Cup.
In hindsight, Liverpool’s choice of Diouf over Anelka has gone down as one of the most costly mistakes in the club’s recent memory.
While Diouf struggled, managing just six goals across two seasons and finding himself mired in a string of controversies, Anelka thrived at Manchester City, netting 45 goals over three seasons.
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The French forward told the Liverpool ECHO in 2020: “This is my biggest regret as well because I knew it was the perfect match. Everything was perfect! I loved everything about the club. I had an amazing relationship with the fans. I loved them and I think it was reciprocal.
“Looking back, I am proud to have worn the jersey of this legendary club and to have known this stadium and these amazing fans.”
The 47-year-old represented 12 different sides throughout his senior career. While his spell at Liverpool was the briefest, his fondness remains evident and he revealed why the transfer fell through.
“It’s simple: it didn’t happen because Gerard Houllier wanted to pay a lower salary,” he said. “It’s acceptable but you have to say it. I wanted to sign from the first minute. Of course a permanent move was discussed from the first day I joined the club.
“If you look at the first time they introduced me in the press conference, I said if I could sign now, I would, but Gerard Houllier wanted a loan because he was not sure. In the middle of March, we were in negotiations to sign.
“PSG shareholder Alain Cayzac said to me Gerard told him that Liverpool would sign me. Later on, Gerard told me face-to-face he’d sign me permanently.
“In the middle of April we reached an agreement about the salary, which had stalled things a little, but I was expecting to sign my contract when the league was over but there was no news from PSG and no news from Liverpool.
“I heard on the news that Gerard Houllier was after another player so that’s how I knew they were not going to sign me!”
Former Liverpool assistant manager Phil Thompson, who was serving as interim manager during Anelka’s proposed move to the club while Houllier recovered from a heart operation, claimed the club opted against signing the Frenchman after his representatives allegedly attempted to engineer a return to Arsenal.
“I heard about this Arsenal story,” Anelka said. “If it was true, why didn’t I sign for Arsenal when Liverpool announced in the press they weren’t going to sign me?”
“And even if it was true, it’s a normal situation. It’s like I’m saying I don’t wanna sign for a club because they are speaking with another striker. It makes no sense. The reality is at the time it was very easy to point the finger at me with my reputation.”
Anelka added: “I loved my time with Phil Thompson, more so than Gerard Houllier. Phil Thompson was a typical Scouser. Direct and straight. He’ll tell you what he likes and when he doesn’t like it, you would know. This is exactly what I want and what I like from people.
“I know if Phil was the manager I would have signed and stayed many years but fate chose otherwise and I had to take another path to find a big club.”
Anelka went on to represent Chelsea, Bolton and West Brom on home soil, as well as the likes of Fenerbahce and Juventus on the continent. During his spell at Chelsea, he claimed the Premier League, two FA Cups and featured in the Champions League final defeat to Manchester United in 2008.
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