{"id":10233,"date":"2025-07-01T19:34:28","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T23:34:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/07\/01\/zidane-named-the-english-legend-the-best-in-the-world-and-asked-real-madrid-to-sign-him\/"},"modified":"2025-07-01T19:34:28","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T23:34:28","slug":"zidane-named-the-english-legend-the-best-in-the-world-and-asked-real-madrid-to-sign-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/07\/01\/zidane-named-the-english-legend-the-best-in-the-world-and-asked-real-madrid-to-sign-him\/","title":{"rendered":"Zidane named the English legend &#8220;the best in the world&#8221; and asked Real Madrid to sign him."},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/07\/01\/zidane-named-the-english-legend-the-best-in-the-world-and-asked-real-madrid-to-sign-him\/#summary\" >summary<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/07\/01\/zidane-named-the-english-legend-the-best-in-the-world-and-asked-real-madrid-to-sign-him\/#Ir_Alex_Ferguson_named_Liverpool_Star_as_the_best_player_in_England_and_as_good_as_Keene\" >Ir Alex Ferguson named Liverpool Star as the best player in England and as good as Keene<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/07\/01\/zidane-named-the-english-legend-the-best-in-the-world-and-asked-real-madrid-to-sign-him\/#Zidane_makes_Gerrard_the_best_player_in_the_world\" >Zidane makes Gerrard the best player in the world<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<section class=\"emaki-custom-block emaki-custom-key-points\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<div class=\"emaki-custom key-points\" id=\"custom_block_0\">\n<h3 class=\"title icon i-list\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"summary\"><\/span>summary<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"custom_block-content key-points\">\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p>                                        Real Madrid&#8217;s Galachico policy began in the 2000s and signed an elite superstar over large fees.\n                        <\/li>\n<li>\n<p>                                        Zinedine Zidane was one of their biggest signatures, winning the Champions League in 2002.\n                        <\/li>\n<li>\n<p>                                        The legendary midfielder asked Real to sign the legendary England player to be his partner in the midfield.\n                        <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<p>Real Madrid&#8217;s dominance was challenged in the early 2000s as Valencia disrupted the natural order of Laliga, revealing that Zinedine Zidane, the legendary of Galaticos, had requested the signature of the English legend to stop Madrid.<\/p>\n<p>Zidane and Real&#8217;s pass to the 2001\/02 Champions League Final was one of the Great Knockout runs in club football history, beating Bayer Munich and arch rival Barcelona in the final four, and winning the elite Bayer Lever Kusan team led by Michael Barack in the finals.<\/p>\n<p>The French football legend, perhaps his most famous goal in that final, looped a cross from the edge of the box, winning the match 2-1.<\/p>\n<p>But the victory was the beginning of a somewhat trophy drought by Madrid&#8217;s own noble standards. They won the La Liga Liga title the following year, but did not win another top flight title until 2007 and had to wait until 2011 before winning the next cup.<\/p>\n<p>Barcelona accompanied the English and Italian side in dominating the elite European competition. In fact, President Florentino Perez adopted the superstar signing policy to regain his status as king of the continent.<\/p>\n<div class=\"table-container\">\n<table border=\"1\" cellpadding=\"1\" cellspacing=\"1\" style=\"\" align=\"\" summary=\"\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"col\">\n<p>Galactic 2000-2010 in Madrid<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">\n<p>year<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">\n<p>commission<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">\n<p>from<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Louis Figo<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>2000<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>60 million euros<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Barcelona<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Zinedine Zidane<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>2001<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>73.5 million euros<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Juventus<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Ronaldo Nazario<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>2002<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>45 million euros<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Inter<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>David Beckham<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>2003<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>37.5 million euros<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Manchester United<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Michael Owen<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>2004<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>9 million euros<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Liverpool<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>shave<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>2005<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>24 million euros<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Santos<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Sergio Ramos<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>2005<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>27 million euros<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Sevilla<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Fabio Cannavaro<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>2006<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>10 million euros<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Juventus<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Ruud Van Nistelrooy<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>2006<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>14 million euros<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Manchester United<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Kaka<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>2009<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>67 million euros<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Milan<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>My wife<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>2009<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>30 million euros<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Lyon<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Cristiano Ronaldo<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>2009<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>94 million euros<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Manchester United<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Xabi Alonso<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>2009<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>35.5 million euros<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Liverpool<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<p>Perez made the habit of seducing top Premier League talents into the Spanish capital, revealing that Xabi Alonso had seduced him.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I was happy in that respect, but I had to look at the big picture within the club and another season was just too much for me. It was very difficult to make that decision (leave) but perhaps it was the best thing for me.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card  article article-card small  no-badge  active-content                      \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"651c-49b6-b64da3794953\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<div class=\"w-img \"><\/div>\n<p>                    <span data-field=\"label\" class=\"article-card-label\">Related<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ir_Alex_Ferguson_named_Liverpool_Star_as_the_best_player_in_England_and_as_good_as_Keene\"><\/span>\n<p>\t\t\tIr Alex Ferguson named Liverpool Star as the best player in England and as good as Keene<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">This could resolve the argument once&#8230;<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>But not everyone was tempted. Zidane revealed that the Liverpool captain specifically asked Perez to sign Stephen Gerrard just to refuse the move.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"zidane-names-gerrard-the-best-player-in-the-world\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Zidane_makes_Gerrard_the_best_player_in_the_world\"><\/span>\n                        <strong>Zidane makes Gerrard the best player in the world<\/strong><br \/>\n               <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In fact, Real Madrid tried to sign Gerrard once in 2005 and again in 2009. He could be one of the biggest signatures of his time in the Galaticos era, and Zidane claims it was he who moved Perez because he believed Red Star was the number one player in World Football.<\/p>\n<section class=\"emaki-custom-block emaki-custom-pullquote\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<div class=\"emaki-custom pullquote\" id=\"custom_block_16\">\n<div class=\"custom_block-content pullquote\">\n<p>&#8220;In his prime, Gerrard was the best in the world. I think I told him that in the summer of 2004 I had a conversation with Florentino (Perez) and that he wanted to be my partner in the middle of Madrid.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"custom_block-content pullquote\">\n<p>&#8220;I know the club tried twice, but he didn&#8217;t want to leave Liverpool. There aren&#8217;t many players who reject Real Madrid, but I think he&#8217;s saying a lot about the person&#8217;s loyalty.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Gerard is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in Premier League history, despite never winning a league title against Liverpool, but his best finish on the Ballon d&#8217;Or podium came in third in 2005, placing behind Ronaldinho and Frank Lampard.<\/p>\n<p>There is no doubt that the Liverpool superstar was disappointed by his teammates and by his teammates to add a team trophy to his individual admiration. And if he joins Madrid at Zidane&#8217;s request, you need to wonder how his status in the game will be seen.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>summary Real Madrid&#8217;s Galachico policy began in the 2000s and signed an elite superstar over large fees. Zinedine Zidane was one of their biggest signatures, winning the Champions League in 2002. The legendary midfielder asked Real to sign the legendary England player to be his partner in the midfield. Real Madrid&#8217;s dominance was challenged in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10234,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[3225,2625,40,898,564,440,452,43,42,3224],"class_list":{"0":"post-10233","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-asked","9":"tag-english","10":"tag-football","11":"tag-legend","12":"tag-madrid","13":"tag-named","14":"tag-real","15":"tag-sign","16":"tag-world","17":"tag-zidane"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10233","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10233"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10233\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10234"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10233"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10233"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10233"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}