A volcanic ash cloud that shut down air travel, a dodgy fax machine and a player who accidentally signed for the wrong club. These are five transfers that could’ve changed the careers of these players forever if not for some strange circumstances…
ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI TO BLACKBURN
Embed from Getty ImagesOne of the best strikers we have ever seen could have been turning out for big Sam Allardyce’s Blackburn Rovers. In January 2010, Rovers were pushing for the top-half of the Premier League and had lost Roque Santa Cruz, with Benni McCarthy then following suit.
At the time, a certain 19-year-old Polish marksman was gaining interest across Europe for his goalscoring record at Lech Poznan.
“I met Sam Allardyce first. He was in Poland after a match. I thought he was a good guy, a very good coach,” said Lewandowski.
A deal was put in place and flight booked for him to check out Ewood Park, however, a volcanic ash cloud had stopped air travel for over a week, killing any hopes of the move. Lewandowski would go onto sign for Borussia Dortmund before leaving for Bayern Munich and then Barcelona, winning multiple trophies across a storied career.
GARETH BALE TO ARSENAL
Embed from Getty ImagesA modern day Tottenham hero, but once upon a time he could’ve been playing for Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. Back when Gareth Bale was a youngster plying his trade in the Southampton ranks, Arsenal were considering a move for the exciting youngster.
They brought Theo Walcott in and eyed up the Welshman too, yet Wenger didn’t go for it because he did not want too much competition at left-back, which looking back now he admits is a big regret.
“We didn’t take him as we had Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy, we didn’t need another left-back,” he said.
“I must confess it was a huge mistake as he can play in midfield. He struggled at the start at Tottenham then they moved him to midfield.”
MICHAEL ESSIEN TO BURNLEY
Embed from Getty ImagesRewind 25 years ago and a 17-year-old Michael Essien had impressed during the 1999 U17 World Cup and went on trial with then Division Two side Burnley.
In the third tier of English football, Essien was a hot prospect to have as an apprentice but Burnley could not keep hold of him as they did not adjust their policy of paying apprentices more than £60 a week.
“I discovered Michael Essien had been on trial here for a few days,” former Burnley owner Brendan Flood said in 2009.
“One of the best players in the World Cup and we hadn’t signed him. The club policy meant we wouldn’t pay an apprentice more than 60 quid a week.
“It smacked me in the face that the problem was a lack of communication within the club that stopped our youth guys making an exception to the rule.”
It was a mistake which cost Burnley the chance to sign a player who would go on to become one of the best midfielders in the world.
DAVID DE GEA TO REAL MADRID
Embed from Getty ImagesManchester United fans were happy to finally see a change in goal last summer but no one can deny that back in 2015, David De Gea was one of the best in the world.
So much so that Real Madrid were on the verge of bringing him back home to the Spanish capital, and in return sending Keylor Navas the other way. Madrid were finalising the relevant documents to submit to La Liga on deadline day, all that was left was tax forms to be sent via a fax machine.
Those forms never made it to La Liga’s office, the deadline passed and David was left in Manchester for another eight years.
JOHN OBI MIKEL TO MANCHESTER UNITED
Embed from Getty ImagesWhen have you heard of a player signing for, seemingly, two clubs at the same time?
In April 2005, Manchester United’s official website announced the £4 million signing of John Obi Mikel from Lyn with his arrival set for January 2006. Mikel even expressed his joy at signing for United in a rushed press conference, however Chelsea apparently got there first.
This saga ended up going to court, with Mikel claiming he was “pressured into” signing for United without his agent there. Lyn’s director was later convicted of fraud and Mikel went on to win everything at Chelsea, leaving Sir Alex to sign Michael Carrick instead.
