'We had Harry Kewell': Gerard Houllier reveals Cristiano Ronaldo nearly joined Liverpool but for contract demands... but Phil Thompson insists deal would have caused 'anarchy'

• e-mail

Former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier has reflected on what could have been after the Frenchman revealed he had the opportunity to sign a teenage Cristiano Ronaldo.

Fresh from attending the re-naming of the Kenny Dalglish stand at Anfield on Saturday ahead of an incredibly dull draw with Manchester United, Houllier admitted that a strict wage structure was all that kept Ronaldo from plying his trade at Anfield instead of Old Trafford.

'I saw him in the Toulon Under 21 tournament and we went for him,' admitted Houllier according to The Liverpool Echo. 'But we had a wage scale and we weren't paying the sort of salary he wanted.

Cristiano Ronaldo nearly joined Liverpool rather than Manchester United, says Gerard Houllier

The ex-Liverpool boss was speaking after attending the re-naming of the Kenny Dalglish stand

The ex-Liverpool boss explained that the forward would have been his if not for wage issues

'Then Manchester United played a friendly against Sporting Lisbon and all their boys said to Sir Alex Ferguson: 'You have to sign him'.'

Ronaldo joined Sir Alex at Manchester United for £12million in 2003. The rest is history.

The Portuguese midfielder went on to win three Premier League titles, one Champions League and even racked up FIFA Ballon d'Or - of which he now has four - and a UEFA Best Player in Europe award before joining Real Madrid in 2009.

Houllier, who managed Liverpool over a six-year spell from 1998 to 2004, managed to lead Liverpool to six major trophies, including an unusual treble in 2001 consisting of an FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup. But the French manager could only dream of the impact Ronaldo could have had at Anfield.

Ronaldo eventually went on to sign for Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United for £12m

And went on to win three Premier League's, a Champions League and a Ballon d'Or

'Maybe we would have won the title with Ronaldo, but we had Harry Kewell, who was outstanding at the time and was very hungry but got a bad injury,' Houllier added. 

Despite this though, the former French national team manager insisted he didn't regret the failed deal, sourcing dressing room upset as his reason.

The Portuguese star went onto sign for Real Madrid for a then world record fee of £80m

And has since gone on to win numerous major trophies and individual honours, while Houllier can only dream of what could have been, saying:'Maybe we would have won the title'

Houllier cited the wage structure as a problem saying he thought it would cause problems

Houllier signed Harry Kewell in 2003 but he endured an injury-hit five years at Anfield

'I agreed with not breaking the wage structure. I thought it would cause problems in our dressing room.' 

Houllier's assistant at the time, and former red, Phil Thompson gave his account of the nearly-move, claiming there would have been 'anarchy'.

'We would have had anarchy if the other players had found out how much we were considering paying for an 18-year-old kid. 

'We looked for a compromise. Ten days later I was sitting in a lounge at Anfield having some lunch and looking at the big TV screen.

'Up came the news United had signed Ronaldo from Lisbon for £12.2m. Gerard and myself nearly choked on our food!'

A fear former Houllier assistant Phil Thompson shared claiming it would have been 'anarchy'