Nemanja Vidic has told FourFourTwo that he "nearly" signed for Liverpool before joining Manchester United.
Vidic signed for United from Spartak Moscow in 2006 and went on to win numerous trophies with the club, including five Premier League titles and the Champions League.
Before agreeing to head to Old Trafford, where Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge at the time, he had discussions with then-Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez.
The former Serbia international 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.
"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."
Of his future, Vidic who retired from football in January this year after struggling with injuries at Inter Milan, added: "I would like to be a manager, but only if I had the opportunity first to be a coach and learn from someone for maybe one or two years.
"I would take the experiences I had of the managers I've worked under. Nemanja the manager won't be the same Nemanja that you saw on the pitch. They are two completely different roles."