Ten deals that slipped through the net.
Sometimes it just isn’t to be in the transfer market – we can all think of at least one huge deal that seemed to be in the pipeline before mysterious collapsing.
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CaughtOffside have taken a look through the archives and picked out the ten most eye-catching moves that nearly happened – how different the footballing landscape could be if these had gone through!
Robinho to Chelsea
The final day of the 2008 summer transfer window was an exciting one, with Brazilian superstar Robinho eventually signing for Manchester City despite having been heavily interesting Chelsea – indeed, the player himself appeared to think he had signed for the Blues during his first press conference!
Luis Suarez to Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur’s scouts were to blame for Ajax striker Luis Suarez not moving to White Hart Lane, having told manager Harry Redknapp that he wasn’t good enough to blame upfront on his own. Suarez would, of course, move on to Liverpool and prove that analysis spectacularly wrong.
Gareth Bale to Nottingham Forest
Now the world’s most expensive player, Gareth Bale was once slightly less highly regarded at Tottenham Hotspur, having failed to live up to his potential during his first couple of years at White Hart Lane. Indeed, according to Clive Allen, Bale almost signed permanently for Nottingham Forest but decided to stay in North London and fight for his place, which proved to be a wise decision.
Alan Shearer to Manchester United
Former Newcastle United goal machine Alan Shearer opted for a move to his hometown club ahead of perennial Premier League champions Manchester United – a decision that cost him many major honours, although Shearer insists that he has no regrets over his decision.
Ronaldinho to St Mirren
Perhaps the most bizarre nearly transfer on this list, Brazilian legend and joga bonito stylist Ronaldinho almost ended up at SPL side St Mirren ahead of moving from Gremio to Paris Saint Germain, with the Paisely club’s former boss suggesting that it was simply international clearance that scuppered the prospective deal.
Robert Lewandowski to Blackburn Rovers
Now the integral target man of both Bayern Munich and Poland, following a fine spell at Borussia Dortmund, Robert Lewandowski was once simply a talented young player with Polish Ekstraklasa side Lech Poznan. Blackburn Rovers had agreed a fee for the player – but a volcano in Iceland put paid to that move.
Zinedine Zidane to Blackburn Rovers
Lewandowski is not the only world class performer that Blackburn have missed out on – they were once extremely close to securing a deal for the future best player in the world, French midfielder Zinedine Zidane. It was chairman Jack Walker who ruined that one, however, asking “why do you need Zidane when you’ve got Tim Sherwood?” Quite.
Diego Maradona to Sheffield United
Diego Maradona would go on to be the best player in the world, something that the Sheffield United board wish they’d have realised when he was offered to them as a young player still plying in his trade in Argentina – as it was, they thought Maradona was too expensive.
Cristiano Ronaldo to Liverpool
Known as one of the finest young players in Europe whilst at Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United eventually got their hands on the phenomenal Cristiano Ronaldo – but Liverpool were also interested in the player and, according to recent reports, Ronaldo was desperate for an Anfield move.
Eric Cantona to Sheffield Wednesday
Another player that a Yorkshire club inexplicably missed out on was future Manchester United legend Eric Cantona, with Wednesday manager Gerry Francis only willing to offer the Frenchman a trial. He scoffed at that and joined rivals Leeds United instead.