Liverpool were keen on signing Rydrygo before the teenager joined Real Madrid in the summer
The Brazilian has enjoyed an excellent start to life as a Real Madrid player after joining the club in a big money summer move from Santos this year.
However, the youngster very nearly ended up at Premier League side Liverpool , who had been interested in the player since 2017.
Rodrygo, who has been dubbed the 'new Neymar', netted a perfect hat trick against Galatasaray in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Still early in his time at the Bernabeu, the 18-year-old is already showing why so many clubs were chasing his signature when he breached Galatasaray's defence twice in the opening ten minutes of the game before rounding off his hat trick in injury time.
And Santos' former manager Elano, who handed Rodrygo his professional debut, has opened up on just how close Liverpool emerged to agreeing a deal with the young striker.
Elano told ESPN Brasil: "There was a period when there was very strong negotiation from Liverpool for him to leave when he was still at the academy.
"The amount was very low, but they wanted to go. The offer from Real later was around €30m more (laughs).
"I had a talk with the staff and said the boy was worth the bet and we should raise him because I would like to work with him.
"Thank God everything worked out for Rodrygo's merit."