Liverpool striker Cody Gakpo reveals that he almost joined Manchester United … but the Red Devils were signed instead of Antonia

Liverpool striker Cody Gakpo says he almost joined Manchester United in 2022 before the Red Devils decided to sign Antony instead.

The Dutch striker Gakpo eventually joined Liverpool in January 2023 and was in good shape for Reds in this term, scoring 14 goals in all competitions.

The 25-year-old is regular in Arne’s slot side and the favorite of the fans on Anfield, but things could go very differently that he sealed the transition to Old Trafford from PSV Eindhoven 2022.

In an interview with a tribune player, Gakpo said: “At about that time [2022]I started to hear rumors about moving to England. Now, everyone who knows me knows that I am a man guided by my faith.

“So one day I had a meeting with a pastor from my church in the Netherlands, and he brought a friend who was Pastor elsewhere.

“This other pastor said,” Can I tell you something? “I said, of course. That was before any big clubs were knocking on my door. And he said God told him I would go to Liverpool. Somehow I laughed like, yes, nice, we’ll see about it . There was a little interest from Manchester United, so I thought, we’ll see.

“Then in the summer of 2022. United went to Antony. I was like, what should I do? At this point I could go to Leeds, Southampton, or I could stay on PSV.

“I prayed and I asked God for the guidance. But you see, I had to make sure I got his message.

“Well, I said, if I only achieve one way, I’ll go to Southampton…. If I score twice, I’ll go to Leeds…. If I achieve three times, I’ll stay.

“We played the next day, and I scored twice. I was also involved in the third goal – and in the beginning it was called my own goal. Then I was pulled out. So, two goals, did I? I thought, ah, OK then it is Leeds.

Cody Gakpo expects to experience a ‘pretty strange’ feeling when he goes out to PSV Eindhoven tomorrow night as an opposition player 🗣️

– Liverpool FC (@lfc) 28 January 2025

“While I was sitting on the bench, I told my friend Jordan Tesa, who is now playing for Monaco, the whole story. He was like,” If God wants you to stay, that goal will be assigned. “It was like throwing a coin, waiting To see what they could happen in any case!

“It’s a funny story, but in a way it’s a really important part of the puzzle. Thank God I stayed because it allowed me to play at the World Cup, which led to Liverpool.”

PSV return

Gakpo returns to the former PSV Club on Wednesday night, part of the youthful Reds team for their last Champions League match.

He is one of the few older players of Liverpool who traveled and is looking forward to returning to the stadium where he gave his name.

He added, “It’s a nice moment, a special moment for me, of course. I look forward to being in the field tomorrow.

“[It will be] Pretty strange. I don’t think I’ve never been to the locker room, so it will be the first time in the other side of the walk. So, different from me.

“But when the game will start, I think all these things will fade and we will all be focused on the game.

“With the team we have, we are here and we are going to win. We hope it will be a good game.

“I hope [I get] Good admission to fans. I think I always had a good relationship with them, so I’m looking forward to seeing them again tomorrow.

“I got a question from a manager [about staying at home] Also, but last week I didn’t play a minute against Lille [and] Also from a manager’s point of view [he knew] That I probably wanted to come here and get a few minutes here. So, that’s why I’m here. “

Klopp vs slot

Liverpool sit at the top of the Premier League and Champions League after an extremely impressive season since Sot replaced the legendary former head of Jurgen Klopp.

In the differences between the two, Gakpo said: “This procedure, of course, started under the clop. Now the groove is based on that foundation.

“He is a very ground manager. Very calm, composed. You can talk to him about football, life, anything.

“It’s so good tactically and I think we fit in well with his system. If you look at our midfielder – Curtis, Ryan, Dominic, Watar, Elliot, Alexis – are all complete midfielders.

“They can do it all: to run, win duels and find each other between the lines. We would play a long ball more often with Klopp and then fought, but now that we play with more patience and shorter passages, you can fully see how much quality there is midfielder. “