The moment Gary Neville tried to convince Steven Gerrard to join Manchester United

Gary Neville has recalled the moment he boldly asked Liverpool great Steven Gerrard to sign for their most bitter rivals Manchester United. During a memorable career at Anfield, the former England man was despised and respected in equal measure by those with Old Trafford connections.

Naturally, it took some effort to bridge that division while Neville and Gerrard were together on international duty for England. But as the two Premier League favourites discuss, the former United defender went above and beyond to discover if Gerrard would be willing to do the unthinkable and switch to Old Trafford.

Needless to say, the now-Aston Villa manager immediately shot down that query and admits that he couldn't quite believe what had happened. The exchange came in 2004. Gerrard was famously subject to interest from Chelsea under Jose Mourinho but, like Neville, he opted to spent his entire career in this country at one club.

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Gerrard did, of course, enjoy an MLS swansong with LA Galaxy before later stepping into the dugout at Rangers and Villa. Here is what the former England teammates said about THAT transfer exchange during an episode of Soccerbox:

GN: "Do you remember me coming into your room before 2004?"

SG: "I remember it, yeah. I tried to be as respectful as I could. I was thinking; 'He's messing this fella, isn't he'?"

GN: "It's one of those things I'd never mentioned to anybody, I don't think ever again."

SG: "I think I mentioned it again in a book or someone asked me a question about it; 'Have Manchester United ever come in for you'? I mentioned that you touched upon it with England once."

GN: "I thought it'd be difficult, I thought