Manchester United have had a number of the finest gamers of all time come via their well-known academy, nonetheless, the Purple Devils have additionally signed some icons.
Sir Alex Ferguson gained races to deliver Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney to Outdated Trafford, with all three changing into Man Utd legends.
Nevertheless, with these at Outdated Trafford at all times on the seek for high-profile signings, they’ve missed out on signing some superstars through the years.
10 stars who nearly signed for Man Utd
Virgil van Dijk
Now a Liverpool icon and arguably top-of-the-line centre-backs of all time, Virgil van Dijk was needed at Outdated Trafford earlier than his transfer to Anfield.
Jose Mourinho needed to make a giant centre-back signing and shortlisted Van Dijk, Michael Keane and Victor Lindelof. As an alternative of splashing the money on the Dutchman who was starring for Southampton, United spent greater than £30m on Lindelof from Benfica.
Ronaldo
Again in 1996, Ronaldo was making his identify at PSV Eindhoven on the age of 20, scoring objectives for enjoyable within the Netherlands.
He was a person in demand in consequence, with Ferguson and co eager to deliver him to Manchester. Ronaldo was even provided to United for £20m, nonetheless, that was seen as an excessive amount of on the time, with Barcelona signing the Brazilian star as an alternative. He went on to win the Ballon d’Or twice, in 1997 and 2002.
Ronaldinho
One other Brazilian icon who might fairly simply have been a Man Utd participant was Ronaldinho, with Ferguson on the seek for David Beckham’s alternative in 2003.
Man Utd have been trying to do a deal for Ronaldinho who was at PSG, nonetheless, after Barcelona missed out on signing Beckham, they dealt the Purple Devils a blow by touchdown the Brazilian. United did signal an attacker that summer time, although, with a sure Cristiano Ronaldo shifting to Manchester.
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Rivaldo
Persevering with the pattern of Brazil stars who Man Utd missed out on takes us to Rivaldo. The Purple Devils had simply gained the treble in 1999 and Ferguson needed to signal the ahead from Barcelona.
Successful the Ballon d’Or that yr, Rivaldo’s relationship with Barca supervisor Louis van Gaal was not nice, however United simply missed out on doing a deal.
Patrick Vieira
Considered one of Man Utd’s best rivals within the Premier League was Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira, and United really tried to signal the Frenchman from the Gunners on two events.
Ferguson believed Vieira needed to maneuver to Outdated Trafford in 2001 and 2003, and there was discuss of a £22m switch as soon as Beckham left for Actual Madrid. As an alternative, Vieira signed a brand new contract to stick with Arsene Wenger.
Eden Hazard
Chelsea legend Eden Hazard appeared nailed on to signal for Man Utd in 2012 earlier than an issue along with his agent arose.
The Blues paid Lille £32m to signal the Belgian, however a cope with the Purple Devils broke down after United refused to pay Hazard’s agent £6m to get the deal achieved.
As an alternative of Hazard, Man Utd signed Shinji Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund.
Cesc Fabregas
Concerned in an altercation with Ferguson at Outdated Trafford, Cesc Fabregas might have labored beneath the Purple Devils boss after he tried to signal him from Barcelona in 2003.
Man Utd then tried once more in 2013 beneath David Moyes, nonetheless, they’d two gives rejected by these on the Nou Camp, with Fabregas as an alternative enjoying for Arsenal and Chelsea within the Premier League.
Zinedine Zidane
In 1996, Zinedine Zidane was on the transfer from Bordeaux, and Cantona urged Ferguson and Man Utd to deliver him to Outdated Trafford.
Former United chairman Martin Edwards mentioned {that a} transfer did not recover from the road as Ferguson thought Zidane was not what they wanted on the time, with the Frenchman as an alternative occurring to star for Juventus and Actual Madrid.
Erling Haaland
Now a Manchester Metropolis celebrity, Erling Haaland might have fairly simply have signed for the Purple Devils throughout the 2019/20 winter switch window.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in cost on the time and knew Haaland from his time at Molde, nonetheless, regardless of talks over a transfer to Outdated Trafford, the Norwegian rejected Man Utd and as an alternative signed for Borussia Dortmund.
Alan Shearer
The Premier League’s all-time document goalscorer, Alan Shearer really snubbed a transfer to Manchester United on two events. The primary got here in 1992 when he joined Blackburn from Southampton, and the second got here 4 years later when he joined Newcastle.
Ferguson was personally concerned in a deal to signal Shearer in 1996 and appeared on the right track to have gained the race, earlier than Shearer’s agent referred to as the Man Utd boss and instructed him they’d determined to affix Newcastle.
Gareth Bale
Probably the most adorned British gamers of all time after successful 5 Champions League titles with Actual Madrid is Wales star Gareth Bale.
Nevertheless, he might have signed for Man Utd as an alternative of Tottenham again in 2007, with discuss of a £10m switch earlier than his transfer to north London. Ferguson blamed the Saints and never Bale for a deal breaking down.
“It was not the boy who turned us down,” Ferguson mentioned. “It was Southampton.”
