The Biggest ‘What If’ Transfer Stories in Football History
Football history is filled with legendary transfers that shaped the game, but what about the ones that never happened? Some of the biggest players of all time came close to joining different clubs, and if these moves had gone through, football history could have been completely different.
In this article, we take a deep dive into the 10 biggest ‘What If’ transfer stories in football history, analyzing how these near-misses could have changed the landscape of world football.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo to Arsenal (2003)
🔹 What Happened?
- Before Cristiano Ronaldo became a legend at Manchester United, Arsenal were in pole position to sign him from Sporting CP.
- Arsène Wenger had even given Ronaldo an Arsenal jersey with his name on it, but the deal fell through when United swooped in with a higher bid and better wages.
🔥 What If It Had Happened?
- Arsenal would have had one of the greatest players ever during their Invincible era.
- Manchester United’s dominance under Sir Alex Ferguson may not have been the same without Ronaldo.
- Would Ronaldo have still become a five-time Ballon d’Or winner under Wenger’s system?
2. Lionel Messi to Chelsea (2004 & 2014)
🔹 What Happened?
- In 2004, Chelsea were interested in a young Lionel Messi, but Barcelona refused to let him go.
- A more serious attempt came in 2014, when Chelsea were ready to activate his £200m release clause. However, Messi stayed at Barça.
🔥 What If It Had Happened?
- Messi could have played under José Mourinho, forming a lethal attack with Eden Hazard and Diego Costa.
- Would Messi have been as dominant in the Premier League’s physical style of play?
- Barcelona’s decline could have started years earlier without their talisman.
3. Diego Maradona to Sheffield United (1978)
🔹 What Happened?
- In 1978, Sheffield United had the chance to sign 17-year-old Diego Maradona for just £200,000, but the deal collapsed due to financial constraints.
- Instead, they opted for another Argentine, Alejandro Sabella, while Maradona went on to become one of the greatest footballers ever.
🔥 What If It Had Happened?
- Could Maradona have transformed Sheffield United into an English powerhouse?
- Would he have been able to shine in England’s physical lower leagues at such a young age?
- Argentina’s 1986 World Cup win could have looked very different if Maradona had developed elsewhere.
4. Ronaldinho to Manchester United (2003)
🔹 What Happened?
- After selling David Beckham to Real Madrid, Manchester United agreed on a deal with PSG for Ronaldinho.
- However, at the last minute, Barcelona swooped in and signed him, changing football history.
🔥 What If It Had Happened?
- United would have had a world-class playmaker before signing Cristiano Ronaldo.
- Barcelona’s golden era with Ronaldinho, Messi, and Xavi might not have happened.
- Would Ronaldinho’s party lifestyle have worked under Sir Alex Ferguson?
5. Zinedine Zidane to Blackburn Rovers (1995)
🔹 What Happened?
- Blackburn Rovers were offered a young Zinedine Zidane from Bordeaux.
- However, their owner, Jack Walker, famously rejected the transfer, saying, “Why do we need Zidane when we have Tim Sherwood?”
🔥 What If It Had Happened?
- Zidane could have played in England instead of joining Juventus.
- Would he have developed into the legendary playmaker who dominated world football?
- Blackburn’s Premier League dominance could have continued beyond 1995.
6. Neymar to Real Madrid (2006 & 2013)
🔹 What Happened?
- At 14 years old, Neymar had trials at Real Madrid and impressed. However, his father declined the move, fearing he was too young to leave Brazil.
- In 2013, Madrid were again close to signing him, but he chose Barcelona instead.
🔥 What If It Had Happened?
- Neymar could have played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo instead of Lionel Messi.
- Would Real Madrid have dominated even more under Zinedine Zidane?
- Barcelona’s famous MSN trio (Messi-Suárez-Neymar) might never have existed.
7. Steven Gerrard to Chelsea (2004 & 2005)
🔹 What Happened?
- Chelsea twice tried to sign Steven Gerrard, offering a record-breaking fee.
- In 2005, Gerrard even submitted a transfer request, but eventually decided to stay at Liverpool.
🔥 What If It Had Happened?
- Gerrard and Frank Lampard in the same team could have been legendary or disastrous.
- Liverpool might not have won the 2005 Champions League without him.
- Could Chelsea have become even more dominant under Mourinho?
8. Kylian Mbappé to Arsenal (2016)
🔹 What Happened?
- Arsène Wenger met Mbappé and his family in 2016, offering him a deal at Arsenal.
- However, he chose to stay at Monaco before moving to PSG a year later.
🔥 What If It Had Happened?
- Arsenal could have had the world’s most explosive forward in their squad.
- Could Wenger have revived Arsenal’s dominance with Mbappé leading the attack?
- Would he have won multiple Ballon d’Or awards in England?
9. Zlatan Ibrahimović to Arsenal (2000)
🔹 What Happened?
- Arsenal wanted to sign a young Zlatan Ibrahimović, but Arsène Wenger asked him to take a trial first.
- Zlatan refused, famously saying, “Zlatan doesn’t do trials.”
🔥 What If It Had Happened?
- Arsenal could have had one of the most dominant strikers ever.
- Would Zlatan have fit into Wenger’s pass-heavy style of play?
- Arsenal’s Champions League ambitions could have been transformed.
10. Alfredo Di Stéfano to Barcelona (1953)
🔹 What Happened?
- Barcelona actually signed Alfredo Di Stéfano, but political intervention saw him move to Real Madrid instead.
- He went on to win 5 consecutive European Cups with Madrid.
🔥 What If It Had Happened?
- Barcelona could have been the dominant club in Europe, instead of Real Madrid.
- The El Clásico rivalry might have been very different.
- Could Real Madrid’s global legacy have been affected?
Final Thoughts
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These shocking near-misses in football history could have rewritten the sport as we know it. Whether it was Ronaldo at Arsenal, Zidane at Blackburn, or Messi at Chelsea, the game’s landscape would have been completely different if these transfers had gone through.
💬 Which ‘What If’ transfer do you think would have changed football the most? Let us know in the comments! 🚀
