JAKARTA - Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour has reportedly had serious talks to buy Liverpool. However, the move was blocked by Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
The Citizens have grown stronger since Mansour first invested in this club. They have won five Premier League titles, have a world class team and an academy that every club in Europe would envy.
In recent seasons, the rivalry between Liverpool and Man City has increased exponentially with both sides vying for the title. However, things might have looked a lot different if Mansour had acquired Liverpool, who was his first choice.
Graeme Souness said he believed Mansour would have almost owned Liverpool had the Reds owners at the time, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, not blocked the takeover.
The Liverpool legend recalled talking to Amanda Staveley, the financial adviser behind Mansour's purchase of Man City, at a Dubai restaurant.
"I went to Dubai, 12, 13 years ago," Souness recalled on Sky Sports, as reported by The Sun.
"I walked around the hotel with my wife and son and went to the empty Nobu restaurant after lunch.
"On the way out someone came and introduced himself, then a woman came in and she introduced herself as Amanda. 'I'm a Liverpool supporter,' she said.
"During the conversation he said, 'I am responsible for bringing the Abu Dhabi family to Man City' and I said, 'but five minutes ago you said you are a Liverpool supporter - why don't you take them to Liverpool?'
"He said, 'I tried, and I tried but Gillett and Hicks were so hard to deal with, they just ended up walking away'."
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