Vidic - Liverpool wanted me and I almost signed for Rafa

Nemanja Vidic has revealed how he nearly ended up at Liverpool instead of Manchester United.

The former Old Trafford favourite has spoken of how Rafa Benitez wanted him for the Reds and a deal was almost done.

The centre-back would go on to play 300 times for United, winning five Premier League titles and a Champions League under Alex Ferguson after the Scot moved quickly to secure his man in 2006.

Vidic, now 34, retired in January after a spell at Inter Milan and told the September issue of FourFourTwo magazine he is now hoping to move into management.

But he also recalled how his career almost went in a very different path.

Vidic said: “Yes. Rafa Benitez called me and I nearly went there. I was interested in going but my English wasn’t good and I was struggling to communicate.

Rafael Benitez and Alex Ferguson

“Then Manchester United came. Fergie called me at my apartment and said: ‘I watched you play for Serbia against France - I want you here’. United were decisive. Everything was done very quickly, within two days.”

Liverpool became Vidic's nemesis while at Old Trafford, particularly struggling against Fernando Torres's pace, and the big defender was sent off four times against the Reds.

Read the full One-on-One interview with Nemanja Vidic in the September 2016 issue of FourFourTwo

The September 2016 issue of FourFourtwo,

Griezmann the yardstick for Vietto

Atlético Madrid had no qualms about splashing out €20 million on Luciano Vietto. His 20 goals for Villarreal -12 in La Liga and eight in the Europa League- in his first season in Europe were enough to persuade the 'Rojiblancos' that the exciting forward is a star in the making.

Diego Simeone was one of the driving forces behind the swoop for Vietto. 'El Cholo' was delighted to be reunited with the youngster, whom he gave his debut back at Racing Club. And yet two rounds of league fixtures have been and gone and Vietto has not been utilised. The Argentine is not yet quite up to speed physically which, coupled with the fierce competition up front - Antoine Griezmann, Jackson Martínez, Fernando Torres and Ángel Correa are also in the mix - has left him rooted to the bench.

The club is drawing parallels with Griezmann. Last term, the Frenchman, who is now undeniably Atlético's main man, began life at the Calderón on the fringes. Indeed, he warmed the bench for five of the club's first ten competitive games and didn't play the full 90 minutes until their 26th match of the season, against Athletic in late December.

That clash against the Basque giants was a turning point. Griezmann netted a hat-trick and embarked on a rich vein of form that would see him end the campaign as the club's top scorer with 25 goals - 22 in the league, one in the Copa del Rey and two in the Champions League.

The 'Rojiblancos' hierarchy are optimistic that it will be a similar story with Vietto once he is able to bed in. They continue to have the highest hopes for the 21-year-old, who has amply shown his talent.