Check out these Manchester United players who showed little respect to their former employers by forcing through moves to Old Trafford. Ex-Arsenal and Tottenham stars included…
Manchester United has always held an attraction to players from around the world, with the club not only having a rich history but also regularly challenging for silverware at every level.
This does mean however, that when United come knocking it is very hard for a player to turn them down; even if their current club have no intention of selling.
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Here are the top eight footballers who forced through moves to United:
8) Robin van Persie – Arsenal
Van Persie is arguably the most hated player at the Emirates Stadium with the Dutchman forcing a move through to Man United in 2012.
It was not just his exit that left the fans furious, but the nature of it as well. Van Persie seemed to claim he had become bigger than the North London club, despite the Gunners standing by him during a number of injury blighted seasons.
With less than a year left on his contract they had very little choice but to cash in on him; a £24m deal eventually going through, the forward instantly going from hero to villain in the eyes of Gooners.
7) Marouane Fellaini – Everton
Although the Belgian did force a move to Old Trafford allowing him to follow former boss David Moyes, Everton may not have been too upset at losing him for a massive £27.5m.
He claimed that he wanted to win trophies and didn’t see himself doing that with the Toffees, but is he any closer at Old Trafford?
6) Wayne Rooney – Everton
Rooney was always destined for big things, but Everton might have hoped to hold onto him a little longer.
The former Toffee handed in a transfer request after falling out with Moyes, and subsequently became a Red Devils player following a £25.6m transfer.
5) David Bellion – Sunderland
The Black Cats were left furious with United after their reported tapping up of French forward Bellion.
They were forced to pay £2m in compensation, but despite his claims that he was disillusioned with life in England Bellion eventually made the switch to Old Trafford.
4) Louis Saha – Fulham
United chased Saha after a fantastic season for Fulham in 2003/04. The Frenchman was apparently furious with his club for refusing to sell him for a £8m; claiming that the deal would have benefited everybody, and that he was disgusted at the way he was treated.
He was eventually sold for £12m.
3) Marcos Rojo – Sporting Lisbon
This summer Louis van Gaal made Marcos Rojo a top target after a number of superb performances at the World Cup.
A £16m bid was turned down by Sporting, but after the player refused to train he was eventually sold to the Premier League side.
2) Dwight Yorke – Aston Villa
Yorke was highly sought after in 1998, his impressive form for Villa putting him on the radar of Man United.
The Villans refused to sell, but when Yorke point blank told boss John Gregory that he didn’t want to play for the club any more all they could do was cash in on the £12.6m striker.
1) Dimitar Berbatov – Tottenham Hotspur
Sir Alex Ferguson was accused of tapping up and unsettling the Bulgarian in 2008 ahead of his White Hart Lane exit.
When Tottenham refused to sell their star striker, Berbatov refused to play in their opening two games. This forced the hand of the London club, Daniel Levy admitting that players had all the power; the striker eventually securing his £30m move to Old Trafford.