10 Big Transfers That Could Have Happened but Never Did…
Full slide show with complete explanations: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1277760-10-big-transfers-that-could-have-happened-but-never-did?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=world-football
1. C.Ronaldo to Arse. A pre-superstar Cristiano Ronaldo nearly joined Arsenal as a teenager in 2003. Instead, he joined Manchester United.
2. Shearer to Manc Utd. Before he moved to Blackburn for £3.3 million in 1992 (that was big money then), English forward Alan Shearer flirted with Manchester United. With Blackburn, Shearer went on to win a Premiership title, but with Manchester United, he almost certainly would have won several. It wasn’t meant to be, though. As Shearer later told FourFourTwo.com, United took too long to sort out their finances.
3. Steven Gerrard to Chelsea. Before there was Manchester City, there was Chelsea. In 2005, Gerrard was linked heavily to a big-money move from Liverpool to Chelsea. But the deal fell apart at an advanced stage. According to the Daily Mail, Gerrard and his family reportedly received threats while the saga played out in the papers. But was that the reason he stayed at Liverpool, or was it loyalty?
4. Sergio Aguero to Chelsea. Another high-profile Chelsea miss was Argentine forward Sergio Aguero. Aguero joined Manchester City for a reported £38 million in 2011 (via BBC Sport). A year earlier, widespread reports had insisted he was going to Chelsea for £40 million. Had he gone to Chelsea the 2012 title may have gone to the other side of Manchester.
5. Alfredo Di Stefano to Barcelona. Legendary forward Alfredo Di Stefano joined Real Madrid in 1953, and European football was forever changed. Real won the first five European Cups and became a true giant of the game, and Di Stefano became a symbol of the club. Imagine what would have happened if Di Stefano had opted for Barcelona instead.
6. Diego Maradona to Sheffield United. United manager Harry Haslam agreed to sign the young Maradona for £600,000 in 1978, but he eventually signed another player after learning that money was tight. The player? Alex Sabella.
7. Johan Cruyff to Leicester City. Leicester City manager Jock Wallace reportedly held “secret talks” with Dutch legend Johan Cruyff over a potential move to England in 1981. Cruyff was 33 then, and Leicester sat in the relegation zone of the old First Division. As the story goes, Leicester offered the then-astronomical sum of £4,000 per game, but the move never happened.
8. Zinedine Zidane to Blackburn Rovers. In 1995, the 23-year-old Zidane had not yet become a legend. Blackburn had a chance to sign Zidane then, but according to the Lancashire Telegraph, club financier Jack Walker said, “Why do you want to sign Zidane when we have Tim Sherwood?” In 1995, the 23-year-old Zidane had not yet become a legend. Blackburn had a chance to sign Zidane then, but according to the Lancashire Telegraph, club financier Jack Walker said, “Why do you want to sign Zidane when we have Tim Sherwood?”
9. Matt Le Tissier to T*ttenham H*tspur. English striker Matt Le Tissier played for only one club as a professional. But he almost left Southampton for Tottenham Hotspur in 1990.
10. Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Arsenal. In 2000, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger nearly signed a teenaged Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Malmo. The deal fell apart because Ibrahimovic refused to accept a trial run with the North London club. Instead, he joined Ajax in 2001 before moving on to Juventus, Inter, Barcelona, AC Milan and most recently PSG.