What a Bales up! The ones that got away
segunpioneerblog top 10 transfers that didn't happen
TURN BACK TIME ... how Didier Drogba, Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo might have looked had certain deals gone through
ARSENE WENGER has admitted he made a “huge mistake” in not signing Gareth Bale back in 2007.
But which other clubs and bosses have blundered in not snapping up top talent when they had the chance?segunpioneerblog delves into the archives to bring you 10 of the best ‘ones that got away’ tales.
10. Yaya Toure
Beveren to Arsenal — 2003
TOUR DE FORCE ... Yaya Toure in action for Arsenal in a friendly against Barnet
That’s because Arsene Wenger gave a 20-year-old Yaya a trial at Arsenal 10 years ago.
The Gunners boss, though, was less than impressed by his display against Barnet in a friendly.
And Wenger was not too fussed when work permit problems scuppered any potential deal.
The Frenchman said: “He played in a pre-season game at Barnet as a second striker — and he was completely average on the day.
“We had an agreement with Yaya to come here but the problem was that we had to wait long enough for a European passport.
“Therefore he was impatient and went, at the time, to Metalurh Donetsk in Ukraine.”
Toure’s career then took him to Olympiakos, Monaco and Barcelona before his 2010 move to the Etihad.
And he said: “To be honest I probably wasn’t ready to come to England back then.
“I was young, I had very little experience of football and I don’t blame Arsenal for the decision they made.”
9. Michael Laudrup
Brondby to Liverpool — 1983
TAKING THE MIC ... Laudrup was not happy when Liverpool changed the terms of his deal
But he would have gone to Liverpool had the Anfield club not cocked up with his contract.
An 18-year-old Laudrup was on the verge of signing for the then English champions in 1983 until the Reds demanded a three-year deal became four.
The player refused, Liverpool would not budge, and the current Swansea boss went on to join Juventus.
Laudrup revealed: “We actually agreed a deal and I came over with my father to talk to Liverpool’s representatives. We agreed a three-year contract and went away thinking it was all done.
“But two weeks later they came back saying they wanted to offer me the same package, but for four years because I was still young and needed time to develop.
“I was disappointed because although nothing had been signed, we had an agreement.
“I decided not to join them and people thought I was crazy.
“I just felt an agreement is an agreement and people should stick to what they decide.”
8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Malmo to Arsenal — 2000
GUNN TO POT ... Zlatan Ibrahimovic posed in an Arsenal shirt before he walked away
Ibrahimovic even posed in a No9 Gunners shirt and a £3million fee had been agreed.
But the striker was left feeling unloved by boss Arsene Wenger and stormed out.
He went on to sign for Ajax the following year while Arsenal splashed out £8million on flop Francis Jeffers.
Ibrahimovic recalled: “Arsene gave me the No9 shirt with Ibrahimovic on it and I was so pleased.
“So then I waited for him to convince me that I should join. But he didn’t even try.
“He never actually made me a serious offer, it was more, ‘I want to see how good you are. Have a trial.’ I couldn’t believe it.”
Wenger’s version of events was slightly different as he said: “I asked him to have a little training session with the first team and he didn’t want to do it.”
7. Andriy Shevchenko
Dynamo Kiev to West Ham — 1994
HAMMER TIME ... Harry Redknapp turned down the chance to sign Shevchenko
But things may have been very different had Harry Redknapp trusted two dodgy Ukrainian blokes.
Shevchenko was just starting out at Dynamo Kiev when the Hammers boss was offered to take a look at him.
Redknapp recalled: “”I was at West Ham and Frank Lampard Snr and I were approached by these two villains who said they were doing some business in the Ukraine.
“We were so scared of them we agreed to have a look at a couple of these kids.
“One of them we played against Barnet reserves and he scored the winner.
“They said they wanted a million quid for him, and Frank said it was too much — well I’m blaming Frank — and we let him go.
“His name was Andriy Shevchenko!”
6. Didier Drogba
Le Mans to Arsenal — 2002
TOP DROG ... Didier Drogba signed for Guingamp because Arsenal failed to bid
The Arsenal manager was tracking the young Ivorian while he was at French side Le Mans.
But Wenger rejected the chance to sign him for just £100,000.
And he could only watch on in awe as Drogba went on to become one of the deadliest strikers in Europe, sealing a £24million switch from Marseille to the Gunners’ London rivals Chelsea in 2004.
Wenger recalled: “We watched him carefully when he was at Le Mans.
“It was not only us who watched him. But we felt he might not be completely ready.
‘It was a mistake but, when you are in football, everyone can understand.
“We had Thierry Henry. We said we would follow Drogba’s progress. We never ruled him out.”
5. Alan Shearer
Southampton to Manchester United — 1992
SHEAR CLASS ... but Big Al was put off signing for Alex Ferguson's Manchester United
But less well known is that Shearer WOULD have gone to Old Trafford four years earlier — had the Red Devils not taken so long to make their move.
The Three Lions legend was banging in the goals for Southampton at the time and had become one of the country’s hottest properties.
United’s blunder meant rivals Blackburn snatched the striker for a British record £3.6million and went on to win the league title in 1995.
Shearer said: “There was interest from Manchester United, but I was told I had to wait three or four weeks for them to get the money together.
“I felt if they really wanted me then they would come and get me immediately.
“I had already spoken to Blackburn and told Kenny Dalglish, Ray Harford and Jack Walker that I would give them an answer in three of four days – and my answer was yes.”
4. Cristiano Ronaldo
Sporting Lisbon to Liverpool — 2003
CRIS CHASE ... Liverpool lost out to Manchester United in the race to sign Ronaldo
The Frenchman revealed how he was put off a move by the then-Sporting Lisbon ace’s wage demands and the fact the Reds already had Harry Kewell.
Ronaldo moved to rivals Manchester United later that summer for £12.24million.
Houllier said: “I saw him in the Toulon Under-21 tournament and we went for him, but we had a wage scale and we weren’t paying the sort of salary he wanted.
“Then Manchester United played a friendly against Sporting Lisbon and all their boys said to Sir Alex Ferguson, ‘You have to sign him’. But I agreed with not breaking the wage structure.
“I thought it would cause problems in our dressing room.”
Arsene Wenger also missed out on signing Ronaldo for Arsenal the same summer, insisting he could not agree a fee with Sporting.
3. Eric Cantona
Nimes to Sheffield Wednesday — 1992
CAN YOU SIGN HIM? ... Sheffield Wednesday blundered when trying to buy Cantona
Wednesday boss Trevor Francis invited the French forward over to England.
But Francis messed up by asking Cantona to prove himself in a trial — and he went on to sign for Yorkshire rivals Leeds instead.
King Eric said: “He didn’t invite me for a trial. I was there for a week and I thought I was there to sign.
“My lawyer was there and he spoke to try and find a way with my contract. I trained and played in a friendly game.
“We won 4-3. I scored three goals. After one week, he asked me to spend one more week on trial.
“I was a France international and Sheffield Wednesday wanted more time to decide about me. That was not a very good way to go about things.”
2. Zinedine Zidane
Bordeaux to Blackburn/Newcastle — 1995/1996
DANE DEAL ... both Blackburn and Newcastle turned down the chance to buy Zizou
And after winning the league title, Rovers manager Kenny Dalglish wanted to add legendary midfield maestro Zidane to his squad.
But chairman Jack Walker uttered the now infamous words: “Why do you want to sign Zidane when we have Tim Sherwood?”
One crumb of comfort for Blackburn fans perhaps is that they were not the only English club to snub Zizou.
According to agent Barry Silkman, Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle had the chance to snap up the Frenchman a year later.
Silkman revealed: “I offered him to Newcastle at the beginning of the 1996 season for £1.2million.
“And they watched him and said that he wasn’t good enough to play in the First Division which is the Championship now.
“Three months later he went to Juventus for £1.2million and two years later he went for £48million. So I think the people at Newcastle got it slightly wrong.”
1. Diego Maradona
Argentinos Juniors to Sheffield United — 1978
SHEFFIELD STEAL ... the Blades nearly landed Diego Maradona for a bargain price
Maradona was 17 at the time when Blades boss Harry Haslam spotted him in action for Argentinos Juniors.
A £200,000 deal was arranged but Second Division United refused to stump up the cash.
They ended up signing another Argy, River Plate’s Alex Sabella, for a slightly cheaper £160,000.
And while their club-record buy did turn out to be a hit, the Blades were still relegated as Maradona went on to rule the world.
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