Ten transfers that failed to come off at the last minute.
As Loic Remy’s long tipped move to Liverpool has finally fallen through, we at CaughtOffside have decided to take a look back at some of the biggest transfers in the past that also fell through at the 11th hour.
10. Shinji Kagawa – Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid
The Japanese playmaker came close to linking up with the Spanish giants in the summer of 2012, after they had been impressed with his performances in the Bundesliga. However, he opted for a move to Manchester United instead as he believed he would get more playing time at Old Trafford. Oops!
9. Andrea Pirlo – Milan to Barcelona
After Pirlo was released by Milan at the end of the of the 2010-11 season, Barca coach Pep Guardiola saw his chance and pounced for the classy midfield maestro in an attempt to bring him to the Nou Camp (a detail that was highlighted in the Italian’s recent book). The move looked set to go ahead, but at the last minute the veteran star changed his mind and joined Juventus instead.
8. Robert Lewandowski – Lech Poznan to Blackburn Rovers
Before he became a household name, the Polish international was busy making a name for himself in his home country with Lech Poznan. His performances had attracted Premier League interest in the form of Blackburn Rovers. A deal was all but agreed when his flight to the Northwest was postponed by the Icelandic ash cloud that forced flights to grind to a halt all over Europe. That delay allowed Borussia Dortmund to steal in and bring him to the Bundesliga instead.
7. Ronaldinho – Paris Saint Germain to Manchester United
The Brazilian trickster was 99.9% sure to link up with the Red Devils in 2003 as the French side looked to cash in on their prized asset. PSG spokesmen confirmed he was en route to the Northwest only for him to change his mind and join Barcelona instead.
6. Yaya Toure – Arsenal
Kolo’s younger brother was handed a trial with the Gunners during his teens and after impressing in a youth team game for the club they were dead keen on bringing him on board. However, Her Majesty’s immigration department had other ideas and denied him a work permit.
5. Neymar – Santos to West Ham
West Ham had their eyes on the young Brazilian forward not long after he emerged in Santos’ first team as a prodigiously talented youth team product. The Hammers put an impressive £16m bid on the table, but Santos stood firm at £28m. Not long after Neymar was sold for a whopping £50m to Spanish giants Barcelona.
4. Roberto Carlos – Palmeiras to Aston Villa
After causing a stir in his native Brazil, a young Carlos had caught the eye of both Aston Villa and Middlesbrough in the Premier League. Then Villa boss, Brian Little, sought out talks with Carlos’ agent and managed to convince him to head to Villa Park, only for chairman ‘Deadly’ Doug Ellis to claim that ‘he would never make it in England’.
3. Cristiano Ronaldo – Sporting Lisbon to Arsenal
Having been discovered as football’s next hot prospect, the Gunners reached an agreement with the side from the Portuguese capital that would have seen him head to Highbury for just £4m. However, never one to be outdone, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson pounced to land him for a considerably higher fee of £10m.
2. Zinedine Zidane – Bordeaux to Blackburn Rovers
Aged 23, and already outgrowing the French top flight, he was offered up to Champions Blackburn Rovers for just £3m. Kenny Dalgleish was sold, but club chairman Jack Walker put a block on the deal by saying; “why do you want to sign Zidane when we’ve got Sherwood?”
1. Diego Maradona – Boca Juniors to Sheffield United
In 1978 a Sheffield United scout travelled out to Argentina to get a closer look at a teenage Maradona, who had been so talented that word had already spread across the world amongst those in the know. Boca only wanted £600,000, but the miserly United board felt the fee was too steep and ditched the deal before young Diego boarded the plane.