Liverpool FC: 5 shock transfers that Rafa Benitez narrowly missed out on

#1 Luis Figo

He could have helped the Reds kick on further.

Possibly the biggest star that Liverpool missed out on under Rafa Benitez was Luis Figo. In the summer of 2005, the Portuguese attacker was approaching the final years of his illustrious career and looked for a move away from Real Madrid, after five seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu. Liverpool, having won the Champions League that year, put themselves in the race for Figo. However, he would end up signing for Inter Milan despite some interest from the Reds.

He joined the Italian giants, citing the following reasons: “I had a great offer from Liverpool and they were really interested in me. But as soon as I arrived in Milan, my mind was made up. They treated me like a friend and I felt at home from the start. I now want to win everything at Inter.''. Who knows how Liverpool would have done in the aftermath of Istanbul with the rich experience of Figo in their squad?

Perhaps, this move could have helped bridge the gap between Liverpool and the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United much quicker. The Reds were unlucky not to win more trophies under Benitez, and now even more so, when you consider the number of players that nearly joined Anfield under the Spaniard.