Gabriel Heinze was so angry that Manchester United did not grant the transfer to Liverpool that lawyers became involved when the saga turned ugly

There is an unwritten but simple rule when it comes to playing for Manchester United: don't play for Liverpool.

But defender Gabriel Heinze clearly didn't get the memo in 2007 when he tried to force a move to the red devils' archrivals.

The defender was looking to become the first player since Phil Chisnall moved to Anfield in 1964 for £25,000 to transfer directly between the two clubs and only the third in Premier League history after Michael Owen. and Paul Ince.

However, he did not take the legendary coach into account. Alex FergusonLiverpool's displeasure saw him intervene and block the deal. After all, Fergie had spent years turning United into a team capable of 'hitting' Liverpool out of position.” Heinze's response was to hire a Liverpool-based law firm.

United's then chief executive David Gill is alleged to have told Heinze's agent Roberto Rodriguez that the left-back could leave for £6.8m.

But United did not imagine that the offer would come from M62, where coach Rafa Benítez tried to take the Argentine international to connect with him. Steven Gerrard and company.

An offer of £6.8 million was submitted, but to Heinze's anger and dismay, United rejected his proposal and Ferguson insisted that a transfer to Merseyside was out of the question.

Speaking at the time, Ferguson said: “I can assure you that Liverpool will not welcome Gabriel Heinze. We can forget about that right now and we have.”

“We had a couple of offers for him and we turned them down. Heinze's agents are getting the ball rolling all the time.

“But no matter what her agent thinks, we're in the driver's seat. I don't know exactly what Gaby thinks because it's all coming from her agent, but this has been going on for a year and a half now.”

He added: “We are aware that he is receiving legal advice, but that is good. I just hope it is good advice because we are very confident.”

“I'm aware that it has been suggested that he is using Liverpool's lawyers, but that doesn't worry me. He either has a case or he doesn't.”

5

5

Benitez, who was left baffled by United's refusal to sell Heinze to the Reds, said: “It's clear he's a player we like and he's a very good player.

“That's why they don't want him to go with us. We made an offer that they rejected. The lawyers are working on it and that's why we have to wait.”

It then emerged that Crystal Palace had been offered the chance to buy Heinze and then immediately transfer him to Liverpool, where they would earn £1 million in compensation for their troubles.

talkSPORT presenter and former Eagles chairman Simon Jordan revealed in his diary Be careful what you wish for that Phil Alexander, the club's general manager, was approached by someone called James Green, who claimed to represent a South American agency called Soccer SA.

He wrote: “The gist of the conversation was that this agent wanted Crystal Palace to buy Gabriel Heinze from manchester united and then immediately sell him to Liverpool.”

Jordan added: “My stance was that we would not get involved and I told Alexander to contact David Gill, Manchester United's chief executive, and tell him about these attempted mischief, which he duly did.

5

“Of course, I took the opportunity for Phil to tell Gill that we would like them to remember the favor.

“The result was that there was a dispute in the Premier League between Heinze and United and we were asked to give evidence and this strange and murky matter was resolved by others.”

Evidence from the meeting was later used at the hearing, which United won.

After losing his bid to join the Anfield team, Heinze told the Daily Mail: “My fight is for the freedom to negotiate with any club.

“United never wanted me to go to one of the big clubs, but this anti-Liverpool clause is incredible.”

5

Liverpool hoped Heinze would appeal the decision, but it never happened because United accepted a transfer offer. real Madrid.

Realizing his preferred transfer was over, he joined Los Blancos, where he helped the Spaniard win the LaLiga title in his first season.

Heinze, who won the Premier League in 2007, later spoke of his regret for trying to force a move on United's rivals, and stressed that he hopes fans will still receive him positively given his performances in their shirt.

The answer became clear when Heinze returned to Old Trafford with Marseille in the Champions League in 2011.

Chants of 'you Scouse bitch' echoed through the Theater of Dreams, showing that the United faithful had neither forgiven nor forgotten his actions.

It was a sad end to a great career and even the player regretted how things ended.

“I don't have many regrets about my career as a footballer, but that episode with Ferguson has to be one of them,” he said before the European clash. “I am impulsive and tenacious and that has gotten me into trouble at times, as was the case when I left United.

“I spent three years in Manchester and I had great moments and I regret a lot (leaving the club). I have a strong personality, Sir Alex is a strong personality. I made the decision and, looking back, I regret it because it meant leaving a great club and his hobby.

“I was aware of the rivalry (with Liverpool), I knew the risk of moving from Manchester to Liverpool and what it means. I hope it doesn't tarnish the way they (the fans) see me and remember those three years I had in the equipment”.

It is approaching 20 years since the transfer saga and no player from either side has dared to cross the dividing line. It has even made subsequent managers think twice: Jurgen Klopp once said he ruled out the idea of ​​a move for Zlatan Ibrahimovic for his brief time in Manchester.

Gerrard's father once gave him a fight for daring to use one of United's best because his childhood football hero, Bryan Robson, played for them.

The battle lines are very clear to everyone.

And as we approach the final clash, at Anfield, between the two great rivals, United will be keen to have someone of Heinze's strength in their defensive line.

United have not won any of their last eight away league games against Liverpool (drawn four, lost four), their longest run since nine between 1970 and 1979.

No wonder everyone from Gary Neville to those on talkSPORT's Inside Devils show fears the worst.