As the summer rolls in so the does the much awaited transfer window with clubs across Europe looking to go from strength to strength. Rumours and stories fill papers and articles across the news with fans and pundits alike giving their take player, fees, suitability and various other factors. It is truly a roller coaster as fans hold their breath in anticipation. Let’s look at the five football transfers that almost happened and could have changed the history of world football.
5) Robert Lewandowski to Blackburn Rovers 2010
The polish striker had another stellar campaign in 2017 scoring for fun and in the process racking up 30 goals in the Bundesliga alone. Having played for Dortmund and now Bayern Munich he’s one of the most lethal strikers around world football today. However things could have turned out differently. Back in 2010 before signing for Dortmund, the 20 year old was spotted playing for Polish club Lech Poznan and a 4.2m bid was accepted from Big sam. But the Icelandic ash cloud scuppered his flight and instead Dortmund had his signature on the dotted line.
4) Zinedine Zidane to Blackburn Rovers 1995
Another one for the Rovers fans to think of what could have been. After the title winning season in 1995, then manager Kenny Dalgish thought a young mid fielder from Bordeaux would be a valuable addition to the current squad. The mid fielder was none other than Zidane. However Chairman Jack Walker didn’t agree.
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“Why do you want to sign Zinedine Zidane when we have Tim Sherwood?” is the famous quote of Jack Walker before Zidane was on his way to multiple world titles.
3) Ronaldhino to Manchester United 2003
After lighting up the football field like he did throughout his career at PSG in 2003, Manchester United where firmly interested in the Brazilian and it looked like the deal would go through. But then Barcelona president Sandro Rosell had won the elections and had promised the fans a big signing. The move for Beckham fell through as the player wanted to move to arch rivals Real Madrid instead. Rosell turned his attention to Ronaldhino instead and the Brazilian was convinced to come to Catalonia and follow the steps of legends like Romario and Rivaldo.
2) Cristiano Ronaldo to Arsenal 2003
Cristiano Ronaldo has won everything in world football today achieving a superstar status. Ronaldo is loved in Manchester having established himself there and carrying the number 7 legacy. Fans would do anything to see him put on the iconic Manchester Jersey again. Arsene Wenger has a reputation of missing out on some world class players but this would top the list of ‘what could have been’.
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Ronaldo even travelled to London with his mother and ‘fell in love with Arsenal’. Wenger has come out and admitted that his jersey was also made with the number 9.
But Arsenal were short on funds due to the Emirates Stadium being built and in swooped Sir Alex and rest as we say is history.
1) Diego Maradona to Sheffield United 1978
Sheffield manager Harry Haslam was on a scouting mission in South America in 1978.
The Blades manager spotted a 17 year old Maradona and was so impressed that he decided to pay £200,000 immediately and arrange a deal. However the Sheffield couldn’t cough up the extra cash for the deal to go through and decided to sign River Plate midfielder Alex Sabella for £160,000 instead as they thought it was a more valuable deal. The club was relegated that season as Maradona went on to win the world cup with Argentina and truly cemented his place as one of the greatest in the beautiful game.
