Gerrard: I turned down United

Steven Gerrard has revealed that he had the chance to sign for Manchester United.

The Liverpool skipper discloses in his autobiography that United, the club he had always been conditioned to hate, offered him a professional contract before his beloved Reds came in for him.

He stressed that he never considered penning a deal with United, but admitted that it was a great boost of confidence to be told that Sir Alex Ferguson was a fan.

"I wore the red of United in two trial games," Gerrard said in his book, published by the News of the World.

"After doing well in those games United offered me a three-year pro contract.

"I even met their legendary manager. A group of trialists had dinner with Mr Ferguson, as he was then. Michael Owen was meant to be at the meal, but didn't turn up.

"We sat and listened in awe to one of the managerial greats. He had heard about me and desperately wanted me to sign, but I was never going to sign for United.

"I looked around other clubs partly to pressure Liverpool into giving me a YTS contract."

Since turning down United's interest Gerrard has carved his name into Anfield folklore with a series of inspirational performances for Liverpool, but he feels that current boss Rafa Benitez views him as simply "a cog in the machine."

The 26-year-old has nothing but respect for Benitez, but believes that the Spanish coach does not go out of his way to forge close relationships with his players.

"We have a good professional relationship. But it's professional," he explained.

"Benitez is not cold towards me, just a little detached. Rafa doesn't think he needs close bonds with players, not even with the captain.

"But respect flows naturally between me and Rafa - everything he says and does is designed to strengthen Liverpool.

"Rafa helped me fulfil my childhood dream of lifting the FA Cup. For that special moment at The Millennium and for Istanbul (where Liverpool won the UEFA Champions League in 2005) I will always revere the man.

"Recently I've even detected a slight mellowing in him, a willingness to think about giving a compliment."