There's an unwritten, yet 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 forcing through a move to the Red Devils' arch-rivals.

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Heinze was keen to swap United for Liverpool in 2007 when he fell out with his bosses at Old TraffordCredit: Getty Images - Getty

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

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However, he didn't account for legendary manager Alex Ferguson's dislike of Liverpool that saw him step in and block the deal.

Heinze's response was to hire a Liverpool-based legal firm.

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

But United failed to envisage that offer would come from up the M62 where manager Rafa Benitez attempted to bring the Argentina international to link up with Steven Gerrard and co.

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A £6.8m offer was lodged, but to Heinze's anger and dismay, United knocked back their proposal, with Ferguson adamant a transfer to Merseyside was out of the question.

Speaking at the time, Ferguson said: "I can assure you, Liverpool will not be getting Gabriel Heinze.

The lawyers are now working on it and so we have to wait."

It then came to light that Crystal Palace were offered the chance to buy Heinze, and then immediately offload him to Liverpool, where they would earn £1m in compensation for their troubles.

talkSPORT host and ex-Eagles chairman Simon Jordan revealed in his diary Be Careful What You Wish For that Phil Alexander, the club’s CEO, received an approach from 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 on to Liverpool."

Jordan added: "My stance was no way were we getting involved and I told Alexander to contact David Gill, Manchester United’s chief executive, and tell him of these attempted shenanigans, which he duly did.

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Ferguson maintained from the start that Liverpool wouldn't be signing the 2004 Olympic gold medallistCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

"Of course, I took the opportunity to get Phil to advise Gill we would like them to remember the favour.

"The upshot was that there was an ongoing Premier League dispute between Heinze and United and we were required to give evidence and this strange and murky set of affairs was resolved by others.”

The evidence from the meeting was later used in the hearing, which United won.

After losing in his quest to join the Anfield outfit, Heinze told the Daily Mail: "My fight is for the freedom to negotiate with any club.

"United never wanted me to leave for one of the big clubs, but this anti-Liverpool clause is incredible."

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Heinze eventually made the move to Spanish side Real Madrid in 2007Credit: Getty

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Liverpool were expecting Heinze to appeal the decision, but it never happened as United accepted an offer from Real Madrid.

Realising his preferred transfer was over, he linked up with Los Blancos, where he helped the Spanish win the LaLiga title in his opening season.

Heinze, who won the Premier League in 2007, later spoke of his regret at trying to force a move to United's rivals, stressing he hopes the fans still hold him in a positive manner given his performances in their shirt.

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

Chants of 'you Scouse b******' bellowed around the Theatre of Dreams, showing the United faithful had neither forgiven, nor forget his actions.

It was a sad end to a great career and even the player was regretful of the way things ended.

Switching sides

Tom Chorlton: Liverpool to Manchester United (1912)

Jackie Sheldon Manchester United to Liverpool (1913)

Tom Miller Liverpool to Manchester United (1920)

Fred Hopkin Manchester United to Liverpool (1921)

Tommy Reid Liverpool Manchester United (1929)

Ted Savage Liverpool Manchester United (1938)

Allenby Chilton Liverpool Manchester United (1938)

Thomas McNulty Manchester United Liverpool (1954)

Phil Chisnall Manchester United Liverpool (1964)

"I don't have many regrets from my career as a footballer, but that episode with Ferguson [has] to be one of them," he said ahead of the European clash.

I took the decision and, looking back, I regret it because it meant leaving a great club and their supporters.

"I was aware of the rivalry [with Liverpool], I knew the risk of going from Manchester to Liverpool and what it means.

Gerrard's dad once gave him a row for daring to wear a United top because his childhood football hero Bryan Robson played for them.

The battle lines are made very clear to everyone.

And as we move closer to the latest clash, at Anfield, between the two great rivals, United will be wishing they had someone of Heinze's strength in their back line.
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