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5 shocking transfers that almost happened!
mladen 11 years ago Edited
Manchester United, Yugoslavia 253 2319

1) Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Arsenal

We know how this one goes by now, but still, what a difference maker he could have been at Arsenal. In 2000, Arsene invited 16-year old striking starlet Ibrahimovic to come and take part in a trial at the club, and it all seemed to be well, it had gone swimmingly until he was asked to take part in a friendly game for a final assessment, and then the teen uttered the immortal phrase ‘Zlatan doesn’t do trials’ and left without signing.

2) Radamel Falcao to Aston Villa

Falcao, now one of Europe’s most famed, and saught after players, was on the brink of joining humble Premier League side Aston Villa in 2009. The Colombian striker was in hot form at River Plate, and was available for a measly £6million, Villa had the deal rapped up, until former boss Martin O’Neill went back on the deal, and let him slip away, he then joined Porto, and now Atletico Madrid.

3) Edinson Cavani to West Ham

Another deal which couldn’t happen in the modern time, but back in 2007, West Ham off the back of a recent FA Cup final appearance, and already recruited Carlos Tevez & Javier Mascherano, the Hammers tried their luck with Edinson Cavani, playing at Palermo at the time. He was out of form, and the Italian club didn’t wish to keep the striker, who was interested in a £7million move to the Hammers in January, the deal was all but wrapped up before the club back-tracked on the deal.

4) Samuel Eto’o to Bolton

Back when Big Sam ran Bolton, they had stumbled upon a player who would become one of the worlds finest, Samuel Eto’o. In 2001, following an impressive loan spell at Mallorca, Bolton were interested in signing Eto’o, all the paperwork was completed and agreed, just the small matter of a £6.5mil transfer fee to be agreed, it was not. Bolton missed out on a player who went on to play for Barcelona & Inter Milan.

5) Cristiano Ronaldo to Arsenal

In 2003, before United signed the future Ballon d’Or winner, Arsenal agreed a fee with the club for Ronaldo, who came over for a trial. It was successful, he met Arsene on 3 occasions, and his family were all for the Arsenal move. He admits the deal was ‘very close to being completed’ but it wasnt to be and United swooped in, and the rest is history.

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  • History
Showing previous versions of this text.

1) Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Arsenal We know how this one goes by now, but still, what a difference maker he could have been at Arsenal. In 2000, Arsene invited 16-year old striking starlet Ibrahimovic to come and take part in a trial at the club, and it all seemed to be well, it had gone swimmingly until he was asked to take part in a friendly game for a final assessment, and then the teen uttered the immortal phrase u2018Zlatan doesnu2019t do trialsu2019 and left without signing.

2) Radamel Falcao to Aston Villa Falcao, now one of Europeu2019s most famed, and saught after players, was on the brink of joining humble Premier League side Aston Villa in 2009. The Colombian striker was in hot form at River Plate, and was available for a measly u00a36million, Villa had the deal rapped up, until former boss Martin Ou2019Neill went back on the deal, and let him slip away, he then joined Porto, and now Atletico Madrid.

3) Edinson Cavani to West Ham Another deal which couldnu2019t happen in the modern time, but back in 2007, West Ham off the back of a recent FA Cup final appearance, and already recruited Carlos Tevez & Javier Mascherano, the Hammers tried their luck with Edinson Cavani, playing at Palermo at the time. He was out of form, and the Italian club didnu2019t wish to keep the striker, who was interested in a u00a37million move to the Hammers in January, the deal was all but wrapped up before the club back-tracked on the deal.

4) Samuel Etou2019o to Bolton Back when Big Sam ran Bolton, they had stumbled upon a player who would become one of the worlds finest, Samuel Etou2019o. In 2001, following an impressive loan spell at Mallorca, Bolton were interested in signing Etou2019o, all the paperwork was completed and agreed, just the small matter of a u00a36.5mil transfer fee to be agreed, it was not. Bolton missed out on a player who went on to play for Barcelona & Inter Milan.

5) Cristiano Ronaldo to Arsenal In 2003, before United signed the future Ballon du2019Or winner, Arsenal agreed a fee with the club for Ronaldo, who came over for a trial. It was successful, he met Arsene on 3 occasions, and his family were all for the Arsenal move. He admits the deal was u2018very close to being completedu2019 but it wasnt to be and United swooped in, and the rest is history.

Comments
Dynastian98 11 years ago
Real Madrid 483 7140

Actually, Barcelona were also interested in Cristiano Ronaldo back in 2003, but since they already spent big on Ronaldinho that season (and some other players like Quaresma and Edgar Davids), they decided to not bid for him. But there was official interest.

Now for what people were wondering,

  1. Ronaldo and Messi on the same team
  2. Ronaldo being fed by Iniesta and Xavi

:)

1
tiki_taka 11 years ago
Barcelona, France 367 9768

If he didn't met ferguson, i don't know if he would be the CR7 we know, the old trafford experience changed the player.

2
ramaboy10 11 years ago
Mauritius 285 6463

Yes we could have had CR7, but we were in debt or some shit

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JuanMata10 11 years ago
Chelsea, Austria 17 1696

Haha gotta love Ibra!

6) Lewandowski to Blackburn

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ramaboy10 11 years ago
Mauritius 285 6463

^ I told you that!

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Vendetta 11 years ago
Chelsea FC, Egypt 202 3025

I don't really care for the whole Ronaldo to Arsenal one as much as the others simply because almost every top club was looking at Ronaldo back then. You could just make a list for "Ronaldo almost went to..."

An interesting one would be Bergkamp to Tottenham. In 1995, Bergkamp was close to signing for Tottenham until the Tottenham chairman wanted to stop signing foreign players.

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