Those that have slipped through the fingers of the Red Devils.
Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller has confirmed that he turned down a move to Manchester United this summer despite being offered astronomical wages.
“Of course. I was aware that I could earn more by making that transfer. The amount that foreign clubs were offering me was astronomical,” Muller was quoted by the Guardian.
“But Bayern are my club, a change was not an issue for me.”
The Germany international is not the first big name to have bypassed Old Trafford either and here are the 10 biggest stars that the Red Devils have tried and failed to sign.
10. Toni Kroos
With just a year remaining on his current contract at the Allianz Arena this summer, United were hopeful they could snap up the midfielder for a cut price fee.
Kroos did eventually leave Bayern on the cheap, but it was Champions League holders Real Madrid that the 24-year-old chose.
Source: Daily Mail.
9. Patrick Kluivert
Back in 1998 a number of Dutch players were on the radar of some of Europe’s biggest clubs after their impressive World Cup campaign.
Kluivert didn’t even listen to the approaches from Sir Alex Ferguson though and chose to join FC Barcelona instead.
Source: Sky Sports.
8. Paul Gascoigne
This is one of those great ‘what if’ moments, with the prospect of Gazza playing under Ferguson perhaps offering the chance to help him both on and off the pitch.
As it was, back in 1988 and before the glory years under the Scot, Gascoigne instead opted to join Tottenham Hotspur.
Source: Sky Sports.
7. Eden Hazard
Another modern great now and a player who was the subject of a three way tussle in 2012 between Chelsea, Manchester City and the Red Devils.
In the end the Blues won out with a £32m bid and Hazard has since gone onto show he is one of the best players in the Premier League currently.
Source: Manchester Evening News.
6. Cesc Fabregas
With David Moyes having taken over from Sir Alex and new chief executive Ed Woodward also desperate to prove his credentials, United began their pursuit of Fabregas in 2013.
It ended up that the Spaniard rejected a return to England – well for 12 months at least because now the 27-year-old is strutting his stuff at Stamford Bridge.
Source: Daily Star.
5. Gabriel Batistuta
In the mid-1990s this Argentine was dominating European football and Fergie looked to try and bring the forward to the Theatre of Dreams.
Then chairman Martin Edwards blocked the deal though as the wages they would have had to pay Batistuta would have ruined the club’s pay structure.
Source: Daily Express.
4. Alan Shearer
This is a little like the Gascoigne deal as although Shearer went onto be the top-scorer in Premier League history with 260 strikes whilst with his beloved Newcastle United, he never won a trophy.
The striker headed back to the North East in 1996 for a then world record £15m, but winning the league with Blackburn Rovers in 1995 remained his biggest achievement.
Source: Sky Sports.
3. Arjen Robben
There have been links with this Netherlands international again this summer, but the time we are thinking about that United first missed out on Robben was back in 2004.
Once again it was the West Londoners who stole the march on them, using their newly invested billions to snap up the winger.
Source: Daily Express.
2. Gareth Bale
Twice now the Red Devils have tried and failed to sign this now world record signing – once when he was at Southampton and then again 12 months ago whilst with Tottenham.
The first time around it was decided the fee the Saints wanted was too high and the second time Bale had his heart set on Madrid.
Source: Telegraph.
1. Ronaldinho
It there’s one player who defines the skill and freedom of football it’s this South American, who for a period in the mid-2000s dazzled all in his wake for both Barca and Brazil.
Yet before Ronaldinho headed for the Nou Camp United tried to convince him Manchester was the place to be. Needless to say he chose Catalonia.
Source: Daily Express.
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