The stories of the players that United missed out on through the years are legendary. From passing on youth players to failing to sign full blown stars I have always found them interesting so here are a couple of the best.

Michael Essien‘s flirtations with Manchester United are well fabled, back in 2005 the man labelled as ‘The Bison’ said:

“I had always dreamed of playing in Europe and, as a boy, my team were Manchester United. When they offered me a one-week trial I just couldn’t believe it, I was so happy. I remember being there and thinking ‘Wow, this is the biggest club in the world’. My biggest hero was Roy Keane. I just loved the way he used to play, his attitude and commitment. I still try to play like him now and maybe people compare us as I play a similar holding role in midfield as he used to. At the end of the trial, the club said they really liked me and wanted to sign me. But they could not sort out a work permit and the move never happened.”

But this was 2005 when United was in transition and the money of Chelsea was a massive lure so the Ghanaian despite his own self professed love of the club ended up in London where he has shone.

Yet there is more! A couple of weeks ago the midfielder added this to the story:

“I had two trials at United, but I was seen as too small. I think Sir Alex was looking for a certain type of player and I wasn’t the one then.”

Irony at its finest as Essien’s all action powerful displays have become his trademark! On a personal note I would love him here, quality player and we are currently lacking his kind of bite in the midfield.

Alan Shearer was a quality striker. Strong as an ox, good in the air as well as with both feet I feel he is vastly under rated by those talking about the finest strikers the game has produced and it is no wonder Sir Alex tried to sign him, twice. When we first came knocking in 1992 Shearer was knocking them in at Southampton where his performances saw him called up to the England squad. It is often alluded to that Shearer took the money and ran in joining Jack Walker’s Blackburn (where he won his only career silverware the Premiership in 1995) ahead of us as we just missed out to Leeds in the league but it would not be the last time we missed out on him.

As his days at Ewood Park were coming to an end Sir Alex again tried to sign the Geordie striker, and a strong Euro 96 tournament strengthened his resolve. Things had changed since our last attempt, as we were coming off our second league and cup double  in 3 seasons and it looked like he would finally sign for us. Guess again! Shearer opted to sign for his hometown club of Newcastle for a record £15m where he remained until he retired in 2006.

As they say every cloud has a silver lining, when we missed out on him the first time we in turn signed Eric Cantona and the second time we signed an unknown Norwegian named Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, not bad at all! As an extra kick from when we first tried to sign him up until his retirement he won just the Premier League whilst I would be here all day trying to list what we won.

Last season when Arjen Robben scored that sensational volley to put us out of the Champions League there was a collective sigh as we all thought of what could have been. In essence Robben was ours. Having first made contact under Kenyon in the summer of 2003, he visited Old Trafford with his father and both agreed Old Trafford was the place for him for the 04/05 season. The transfer was as good as done but we low balled PSV with a £5m offer when they had verbally agreed a deal for £10m.

The insult prompted the legendary response from PSV chief Harry Van Raaij who claimed the most the derisory bid would get was a shirt with Robben’s autograph.

Seeing the hitch Chelsea now with Kenyon in their employment and knowing the intricacies of United’s deal swooped with a £12m offer and the rest is as they say history. In his first season at Stamford Bridge he and Damien Duff ran the wings majestically as Chelsea won the league and although injury has really blighted him, when on form as he showed last season he is a joy to behold. Could you imagine him on the left with Ronaldo on the right? A fullback’s nightmare!

Click here to see who else makes the list and the stories behind their failure to join United.


12 responses to “The one that slipped the net: Players Manchester United missed out on”

  1. Rohit says:

    Was kenyon on chelsea pay roll at that time..Though i don’t regret it, we missed out on a lot of our targets based on his cheek..

  2. Believe says:

    Patrick Kluivert, in the summer of 98 Man Utd had agreed a £9m deal with Ac Milan for the duvch hhtman only for him to have a change of thought and stay at the san siro (Bought Yorkie a few weeks later)…Ronaldinho, the deal was done and dusted in 03 till kenyon delib fucked it all up and he went to Barca (oh well, got better, Ronaldo = legend)…Marcos Senna, we had him for only £4m in 06, everything was signed with Villarreal and we only needed Fergie’s signature but he had heart set on Hargreaves.

  3. Kings says:

    Kenyon is a cunt. His actions were calculated as he knew he was going to leave United for Chelsea. The last thing he wanted to do was give his old employers the edge over his new one’s – well at that time of course. At the end of the day, it’s their loss as you only have to look at what we have achieved in the last 20 years. The greatest payback on that bastard Kenyon was undoubtedly the European Cup Final of 2008 when he walked up in the pouring rain to collect the runners-up shield, whilst the great man Sir Bobby Charlton was invited up to collect a winners medal which he reluctantly accepted – you couldn’t find a bigger contrast in characters than those two.

  4. Believe says:

    Doesnt matter, No one man is bigger than Manchester (United)…we are the best of the best, no matter what United shall always be on top.

  5. Pryce says:

    I remember when we missed out on ronaldinho, never knew that happened!!! Was quite funny though, few weeks after he signed for barca we beat em in Europe! Happy days! Remember when we were the mist feared club in Europe! Hope that feeling returns one day when I get excited rather than nervous about playin the big boys

  6. jonathan says:

    Essien hurts the most as this would affect a present reality and need, not to mention I love that guy (ahem…as a player). It’s also worse as the other players involve money issues, but this was just bad judgment. I don’t know how the hell the didn’t see him being strong enough. He would’ve been younger and leaner, but he must’ve had the the same body frame. From what I know, he did well in France from the get-go, so I don’t know how they missed it when he was right in person on their own trial.
    Can you tell I’m bitter?

  7. Jason Freeman says:

    Essien is the one of a tiny bunch of Chelsea players that I like. One of my favourite non-United players.

  8. Chudi Onwuazor says:

    Being that I originate from Nigeria, Essien has been the bane of my life as he is Ghanaian and a Chelsea player.

    A quality player that always gives a good effort, I would have loved to have had him here. Shame he ran to London for the money!

  9. Andy Ayim says:

    The Essien one hurts because he has a genuine desire to play for Man Utd and I know he would have slotted in at a crucial time when Keane was on the out. Happy to see you put the boarder debates to the side and admitted the Ghanaian would have been an asset to United!!

  10. jonathan says:

    Chudi, looks like someone is a fan of your work. Well, as they say, imitation is the best form of flatery.

    http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/45214/Top_Three_Players_that_nearly_signed_for_Manchester_United.aspx