Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has revealed that he turned down offers to stay in the Premier League after deciding to leave the club at the end of the season.
The Anfield stalwart will bring his illustrious career on Merseyside to an end following the current campaign before moving to America to play in the MLS.
The 34-year-old says that he had offers from all over the world, but did not want to run the risk of finding himself playing against the club where he has served his entire career.
"I had a lot of offers – domestically, from Europe, Asia and America. When I decided the time was right to leave Liverpool, I knew straightaway I wouldn't ever sign for another domestic club or anyone in Europe," Gerrard told the Liverpool Echo.
"I never wanted to find myself in the situation where I was coming back to play against Liverpool. Even if I went somewhere else in Europe I'd be running that risk in terms of the European competitions. Also, I said to myself that if you want to play for a big team in Europe with a great coach then I may as well stay put because I had all that here already. That wouldn't have been the change I was looking for.
"The attraction of America was a different lifestyle, a different culture for myself and my family."
Gerrard is understood to be on the verge of agreeing terms with Los Angeles Galaxy.
Barney Corkhill
