“I chose Liverpool over Real Madrid, but now they’re ready to terminate my contract,” a Liverpool player confessed in an interview today, acknowledging that his future at Anfield is uncertain after a poor season.

Liverpool fans have increasingly grown frustrated during recent transfer windows, and as the new Premier League season approaches, they remain the only club in the top flight yet to secure a new signing. This is not due to a lack of effort; just recently, Martin Zubimendi turned down a move to Anfield, and earlier in the summer, a potential swap deal involving Anthony Gordon with Newcastle United fell through.

In the past few years, Liverpool has faced several setbacks in their pursuit of high-profile players. Their attempts to secure talents like Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham, Moises Caicedo, and Romeo Lavia have all ended in disappointment. The cases of Tchouameni and Bellingham were particularly painful for the Reds, as both opted for lucrative moves to Real Madrid, leaving Liverpool empty-handed. The club has had to adjust to the harsh reality of struggling to compete with La Liga’s giants for top signings.

However, Liverpool wasn’t always in this challenging position. Reflecting on past successes, the story of Markus Babbel’s transfer to Anfield stands out. In 2000, Liverpool managed to sign Babbel on a free transfer from Bayern Munich, despite strong interest from Real Madrid. At that time, Madrid were the reigning European champions, but Babbel chose Liverpool over them. In an interview with the *ECHO*, Babbel confirmed Madrid’s interest and shared an intriguing anecdote. He recalled an agent offering him $1 million if he would sign with Real Madrid the next day. Babbel, however, turned down the offer, explaining that Real Madrid wasn’t the right club for him. He added that if he were to move to Spain, it would have been for Barcelona, as he was a devoted fan of the Catalan club.

Interestingly, while on his way to Liverpool to finalize his contract, rumors circulated that Babbel was set to sign for Real Madrid. Ultimately, he chose Liverpool and went on to have a remarkable debut season at Anfield. Babbel played a key role in the team’s success, helping Liverpool secure the treble and qualify for the Champions League in the 2000/01 season. He contributed significantly, scoring six goals and providing five assists, with memorable performances including a goal in the 3-2 Merseyside derby victory over Everton and crucial contributions in both the FA Cup and UEFA Cup finals.

Unfortunately, Babbel’s career took a tragic turn after his promising start. Following successful beginnings to the next season with victories in the Charity Shield and European Super Cup, Babbel was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a debilitating illness that left him wheelchair-bound. Although he made an impressive comeback to the pitch in 2002, he was never able to recapture his previous form and eventually clashed with manager Gerard Houllier. Babbel’s last appearance for Liverpool came in December 2002, and after being sent off twice while playing for the reserves, Houllier confirmed that the player had no future at the club due to his attitude.