LIVERPOOL wonderkid Harvey Elliott got the red carpet treatment as Real Madrid tried to convince him to move to the Bernabeu – but they blew it when they offered him a one-to-one with legend Sergio Ramos.
The Reds midfielder quickly told them: “I don’t like him after what he did to Mo Salah.”
Ramos, known for using the ‘dark arts’ in matches, had taken out Salah early on in the 2018 Champions League final – leaving the Egyptian with a dislocated shoulder.
Liverpool-mad Elliott was then playing for Fulham but was invited to the Spanish capital as Bernabeu chiefs tried to talk him into a free transfer move from Craven Cottage in 2019.
The London-born youngster, then 16, eventually signed for his beloved Reds that summer.
Los Blancos’ courtship of Elliott was revealed by The Athletic website.
After a tour of the club’s state-of-the-art training complex, Elliott was asked if he would like to meet club skipper Ramos, a four-time Champions League winner, plus a World Cup winner and European Championship winner with Spain.
But the teenager chipped back: “No, it’s OK, thanks. I don’t like him after what he did to Mo Salah.”
And Real’s charm offensive was left in tatters.
Elliott had gone to the Champions League final in Kiev with his dad Scott as Jurgen Klopp‘s side went down 3-1 after Ramos’ cynical challenge on Salah, who had scored an astonishing 47 goals in that season.
The youngster, who became the youngest player ever to play in the Premier League at Fulham, had several of European football’s top clubs chasing him.
Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea were also chasing his services.
But there was only going to be one winner as Elliott followed his father by supporting the team he had followed since he was a boy.
He took the young Harvey to his first Liverpool match when he was just three years old, back in 2006.
Elliot could be knocking on the first-team door at Anfield next season.
Boss Jurgen Klopp is a huge fan and said earlier this spring, “I am looking forward to it and I will try to get more to know about him and to show what a good kid he is.
“He is a great player, which everybody sees, but behind that is a great human being – and a great addition to our team and our squad.”
