How Man Utd nearly signed Van Dijk, Haaland and a legendary Ballon d’Or winner

Manchester United have had a number of the greatest gamers of all time come by means of their well-known academy, nonetheless, the Pink 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Sir Alex Ferguson gained races to deliver Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney to Outdated Trafford, with all three turning into Man Utd legends.

Nevertheless, with these at Outdated Trafford all the time on the seek for high-profile signings, they’ve missed out on signing some superstars through the years.

10 stars who virtually signed for Man Utd

Virgil van Dijk

Now a Liverpool icon and arguably probably the greatest centre-backs of all time, Virgil van Dijk was needed at Outdated Trafford earlier than his transfer to Anfield.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 a substitute 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 title at PSV Eindhoven on the age of 20, scoring targets 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 a substitute. 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 substitute 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 Pink Devils a blow by touchdown the Brazilian. United did signal an attacker that summer time, although, with a sure Cristiano Ronaldo shifting to Manchester.

Rivaldo

Persevering with the pattern of Brazil stars who Man Utd missed out on takes us to Rivaldo. The Pink Devils had simply gained the treble in 1999 and Ferguson needed to signal the ahead from Barcelona.

Successful the Ballon d’Or that 12 months, Rivaldo’s relationship with Barca supervisor Louis van Gaal was not nice, however United simply missed out on doing a deal.

Patrick Vieira

Certainly one of Man Utd’s biggest rivals within the Premier League was Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira, and United truly 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 a substitute, Vieira signed a brand new contract to stick with Arsene Wenger.

Eden Hazard

Chelsea legend Eden Hazard seemed 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 take care of the Pink Devils broke down after United refused to pay Hazard’s agent £6m to get the deal achieved.

As a substitute 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 below the Pink Devils boss after he tried to signal him from Barcelona in 2003.

Man Utd then tried once more in 2013 below David Moyes, nonetheless, they’d two presents rejected by these on the Nou Camp, with Fabregas as a substitute 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 stated {that a} transfer didn’t recover from the road as Ferguson thought Zidane was not what they wanted on the time, with the Frenchman as a substitute happening to star for Juventus and Actual Madrid.

Erling Haaland

Now a Manchester Metropolis famous person, Erling Haaland might have fairly simply have signed for the Pink 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 a substitute signed for Borussia Dortmund.

Alan Shearer

The Premier League’s all-time file goalscorer, Alan Shearer truly 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 seemed on target to have gained the race, earlier than Shearer’s agent referred to as the Man Utd boss and informed him they’d determined to affix Newcastle.

Gareth Bale

One of the embellished British gamers of all time after profitable 5 Champions League titles with Actual Madrid is Wales star Gareth Bale.

Nevertheless, he might have signed for Man Utd as a substitute 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.