Steven Gerrard has stunned the footballing world by revealing that he has chosen to renege on his agreement to join MLS side LA Galaxy and instead sign a two-year contract extension with Liverpool.
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It’s a decision that brings back memories of the summers of 2005 and 2006, when the Liverpool legend twice came to within hours of signing for bitter rivals Chelsea, before stepping back from the brink.
In an exclusive interview with the Liverpool Guardian, Gerrard was quoted as saying that he had thought long and hard about the decision, but that he couldn’t stand the thought of ending up like Frank Lampard and being forced to play for a team against his will.
“Liverpool are literally in my blood,” he said. “The recent charity game made me realise I couldn’t possibly leave them. How could I go to the US knowing that LA Galaxy might force me to come back here to play for Manchester City or Everton on loan?”
Knowing that Gerrard’s decision to stay would create huge media attention, club officials have moved to take the skipper away from the limelight while he thrashes out the details of his new contract deep in the bowels of Anfield.
Although we were unable to get hold of Gerrard, we did manage to grab an exclusive interview with his mum, Barbara.
“He loves Liverpool – the fans, the players and the city”, Barbara explained.
“But he also loves my famous toad in the hole, and I think that’s been a big factor in his decision to stay where he belongs,” she added, while stirring a bubbling pan of onion gravy.
“Alex [Steven’s wife] has never been a good cook – what she did to the Christmas turkey in 2011 was, quite frankly, unholy! Now I go round twice a week to cook some food and clean the oven.”
Reports in the US suggest that LA Galaxy, though disappointed, will turn now their attention to former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs, with the Welshman desperate to find a way to avoid talking to Louis Van Gaal on a daily basis.