Gerrard has revealed that he sent Kroos a message during the summer transfer window, attempting to explain Liverpool’s project and encourage the Germany international to move to Anfield. Kroos reportedly responded respectfully, but Real Madrid were already preparing their own approach after Germany’s World Cup triumph.
The midfielder eventually completed his move to Madrid. Kroos later confirmed that Liverpool had made contact and said the club had offered to explain more about its plans. However, Luis Suarez was also on the verge of leaving for Barcelona, a factor that appears to have weakened Liverpool’s appeal at a critical moment.
Gerrard’s story also highlights how Liverpool used him to make informal approaches to ambitious targets. A year earlier, he had contacted Willian by text as the club tried to recruit the Brazilian. Gerrard preferred messaging players directly, allowing them time to consider the proposal rather than putting them under pressure in a phone call.
Kroos’s decision became one of the defining missed opportunities of Liverpool’s modern transfer history. He went on to become a key figure in one of Real Madrid’s most successful eras, winning four La Liga titles and five Champions League trophies.
His later career added an uncomfortable edge to the story for Liverpool. Kroos featured in Real Madrid’s Champions League final victories over the English club in 2018 and 2022, making the failed approach part of a much larger European rivalry.
Willian’s decision offered a different lesson. He reportedly questioned whether Liverpool could deliver Champions League success, then joined Chelsea for £30 million. He won two Premier League titles at Stamford Bridge, although the Champions League remained out of reach.
Kroos retired after Euro 2024, but Gerrard’s recollection continues to illustrate the importance-and the limits-of personal persuasion in transfers. A captain’s endorsement can open a conversation, yet the direction of a project, the timing of departures and a club’s competitive status often decide whether that conversation leads anywhere.