Manchester United may be the most successful club in Premier League history but their transfer dealings haven’t always been on point – although Old Trafford regulars will be relieved they never got deals for this XI over the line.
The Sir Alex Ferguson era was defined by clever signings, although even the greatest manager in the club’s history wasn’t immune from transfer cock-ups, but United’s movements in the market since Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 have frequently made their supporters scratch their heads.
We’ve compiled an XI of players United reportedly targetted but will be relieved they never signed, lining up in a traditional 4-4-2 formation.
GK: Rene Adler
“Everyone here knows that I have higher ambitions and everyone knows that Manchester United is my dream club,” Adler announced during the early days of 2011. “The board of the club are aware of the special clause in my contract.”
Adler was keeping goal for Bayer Leverkusen at the time and dispensed with the usual coquettish flirting techniques favoured by footballers to offer his services to United.
With Edwin van der Sar in his final season as a professional, Ferguson was in the market for a top-class keeper. But the outgoing Van der Sar recommended a different replacement: David de Gea.
De Gea has been United’s first-choice No.1 for the past decade while Adler spent the rest of his career at mediocre Bundesliga clubs. It’s hard to see United having many regrets over their decision.
RB: Cicinho
After winning the World Cup with Cafu and Roberto Carlos bombing down the flanks, Brazilian full-backs were all the range in the mid-2000s and Cicinho was heavily linked with a move to United in 2005.
Ferguson viewed the Sao Paolo defender as the long-term successor to Gary Neville but, despite being on the verge of joining United, Cicinho ultimately chose a move to Real Madrid following an intervention from Roberto Carlos.
“He asked me if I wanted to come and play with him for the Galacticos,” Cicinho wrote on social media about his £3.5million move to Spain.
“It was almost all right for me to go to Manchester United, but how could I say no to the chance to be friends with Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, [Zinedine] Zidane, [Luis] Figo, [David] Beckham, Robinho, Raul, Julio Baptista, [Iker] Casillas, Sergio Ramos and so on?”
But Cicinho was shipped off to Roma after just 18 months and 32 appearances for the club. The defender later confessed his time in Spain was…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Football365…