Looking Back at 7 Of The Best Football Transfers That Never Came to Be

Football is a sport filled with drama, and some of the most captivating stories come not from the transfers that actually happened, but the ones that almost did. Over the years, we've witnessed multiple transfer sagas that captured headlines and had fans around the world on the edge of their seats, only for the deals to fall through at the final moment. These are the seven most shocking transfers that never happened, each of which could have rewritten the history books.

7. Luis Suárez to Arsenal (2013)

Transfer Fee: £40 million + £1 (release clause)

In the summer of 2013, Luis Suárez was one of the most coveted strikers in football, following an explosive season at Liverpool. Tensions with his club over a lack of Champions League football led the Uruguayan to publicly express his desire to leave.

Arsenal came calling, offering £40 million + £1, which they believed would trigger Suárez’s release clause. But Liverpool had other ideas, rejecting the bid and refusing to sell their star. Suárez would go on to remain at Anfield for one more season, where he finished as the Premier League’s top scorer and led Liverpool to a near-miss in the title race. In 2014, he would leave for Barcelona in a deal worth around £75 million and the infamous 'Suárez bite' moment would happen in the 2014 World Cup.

6. Ronaldinho to Manchester United (2003)

Transfer Fee: £22 million (estimated)

In 2003, Ronaldinho was high in demand after the World Cup. Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly agreed a £22 million deal for the Brazilian starboy. However, just as the move was on the verge of completion, Barcelona swooped in.

Ronaldinho, eager for a new challenge, chose the Catalan club over United. The Brazilian forward said that he was only 48 hours away from finalising the United deal but the Barca deal couldn't be turned down. The Brazilian would go on to light up Camp Nou, winning the Ballon d'Or twice.

5. Paulo Dybala to Tottenham Hotspur (2019)

Transfer Fee: £64 million (reported)

In the summer of 2019, Paulo Dybala was one of the most talked-about players in Europe, having enjoyed a standout season with Juventus. Tottenham Hotspur, fresh from a debut Champions League final appearance, saw an opportunity to land the Argentine forward. A deal worth £64 million was in the works.

Personal terms were agreed, but complications arose regarding image rights and agent demands, causing the deal to collapse in the final hours of the transfer window. Dybala ultimately stayed at Juventus, before leaving for AS Roma in 2022.

4. Neymar to Manchester United (2013)

Transfer Fee: £38 million (reported)

As one of the most promising young talents in football, Neymar was at the centre of a transfer saga in 2013. Manchester United, looking to build for the future, made a move to sign the Brazilian forward, offering £38 million to secure the player. Sir Alex Ferguson was reportedly keen to make the deal happen, but as negotiations progressed, Barcelona entered the picture. The Spanish club made an offer Neymar couldn’t refuse, and he signed for them in a deal worth around €57 million.

Had he moved to United, he would have joined a side already featuring players like Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, and Shinji Kagawa, making for an attacking line with real potential. Instead, Neymar's move to Barcelona would see him become part of one of the most dominant attacking trios in football history, alongside Messi and Suárez.

3. Cristiano Ronaldo to Liverpool (2003)

Transfer Fee: £12 million (reported)

In 2003, Cristiano Ronaldo was an emerging star at Sporting Lisbon. After impressing in a pre-season friendly against Manchester United, Liverpool were on the verge of completing a deal for the 18-year-old forward, reportedly agreeing on a £12 million fee with the Portuguese side who were willing to cash in on Ronaldo.

Just as the deal was nearing completion, Sir Alex Ferguson acted quickly and secured Ronaldo's for £12.24 million, making him the most expensive teenager in history at the time. The Portuguese national later made a return to Manchester United in 2021 before falling out with the club.

2. Lionel Messi to Chelsea (2014)

Transfer Fee: £250 million (rumoured release clause)

Gianluca Di Marzio's told Sky Sports that Chelsea agreed to give Messi an annual wage of $65 million plus 70% of image rights. The Argentine national was reportedly keen on the deal and in close contact with Jose Mourinho who were both awarded at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in 2010 .

Roman Abramovich was reportedly willing to activate Messi’s £250 million release clause and offering him a record-breaking salary. The deal looked feasible, and Messi was said to be tempted by the idea of a new challenge in the Premier League. However the deal fell apart when his father and agent, Jorge Messi, was angry about being left out of talks.

Messi ended up staying at Barcelona, where he went on to win several more titles, including LaLiga and the Champions League. Had he joined Chelsea, Messi could have formed a frightening attacking partnership with Eden Hazard and Diego Costa.

1. Zinedine Zidane to Blackburn Rovers (1995)

Transfer Fee: £3.5 million (reported)

In 1995, Zinedine Zidane was a rising star at Bordeaux and was being eyed-up by Blackburn Rovers. The club, under the ownership of Jack Walker, was keen to bring Zidane to Ewood Park and was in advanced talks to sign him for around £3.5 million—a hefty sum at the time.

Surprisingly, Rovers turned down Zidane due to Walker's admiration for title-winning captain Tim Sherwood. The Rovers owner famously said "Why do you want to sign Zidane when we have Tim Sherwood?".

Zidane joined Juventus for £3.2 million only a few months later. In 2001, he would move to Real Madrid for a world-record at the time of €77 million after being turned down by the reigning Premier League champions.