New Reds signing turned down Madrid

Posted on July 29, 2010 by A.Qureshi

New Liverpool signing Milan Jovanovic has revealed that he turned down an offer by Real Madrid before agreeing to come to Anfield.

The Serbia forward is expected to make his competitive debut for the Reds in tonight’s Europa League qualifier against FK Rabotnicki.

The 29-year-old former Standard Liege attacker has now revealed how he had previously rejected a move to the Bernabeu after not being guaranteed regular first-team football.

“I think 99 % of people I spoke to told me they did not understand why I said no to Real,” said Jovanovic, who scored Serbia’s winner against Germany in the group stage of the World Cup.

“But maybe I am special. I thought if I went it would be as an ordinary player, but that, if I stayed, I would be where I felt good, where I was a star in Belgium.”

“It is only a small league but Standard Liege won two titles and two Super Cups while I was there and I won two personal awards, one from coaches and players and the second from journalists. So I was very happy,” he explained.

“Real offered me just a one-year deal with an option for two years. I said four, they said no and so I turned them down. Maybe they are the biggest club in the world, but I always knew that other big clubs would come,” he added.

“I will never go somewhere where I only play a small part. Why? It is better to be happy somewhere. Now I only want to look forward and play for Liverpool.”