Premier League

The Biggest Football Players Transfers To Have Collapsed

The Biggest Football Players Transfers To Have Collapsed

Believe it or not, signing and selling players in real life is not as straightforward as FIFA makes it out to be. Transfers always have a chance of collapsing if a contract hasn’t been signed, and many players have experienced that pain in the past.

A transfer isn’t complete until you hear an official announcement or see the player wearing his new kit, but even then the deal can be hijacked.  With so much pressure on clubs to get deals done, and players always desperate for the next step in their careers, the transfer window is all-consuming.

Manchester United and Chelsea have both stolen players from under the noses of their bitter rivals, but they’ve also been on the receiving end. Add to that an unrelenting desire from fans to see new faces and now endless media coverage surrounding rumours, leaks and signings, it’s very difficult for these very delicate deals to be struck cleanly.

FootTheBall take a look at some memorable examples of players who were all set to join one club, only to then sign for somebody else.

 

David De Gea – From Manchester United to Real Madrid

Manchester United star De Gea was set to join Real Madrid on deadline day in August 2015, with Keylor Navas heading in the opposite direction, before the transfer collapsed. Reports in Spain claimed the Red Devils didn’t file the correct paperwork in time, while other rumours suggested Old Trafford’s fax machine broke.

The La Liga giants were frustrated with the collapse, confirming in a statement: “In short, Real Madrid have done everything they could at all times for deal to take place.” De Gea has remained a Man Utd player since, adding just three major trophies – the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League – to his trophy cabinet.

Navas, meanwhile, won three Champions League titles and La Liga at Real Madrid and has since joined Paris Saint-Germain, winning Ligue 1 in 2019-20.

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Robinho – From Real Madrid to Chelsea

Chelsea started selling replica shirts with Robinho’s name on them before the deal was done, but they were left with egg on their faces.

Manchester City wanted to make a marquee signing after Sheikh Mansour’s takeover in 2008 and managed to sign the attacker for £32.5million.

The move came out of nowhere; it was so shocking that even Robinho didn’t seem to know who he had signed for.

“On the last day of transfers, Chelsea made a good offer for me personally, and good for Real Madrid, and it was accepted,” Robinho…

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