Some stories are just too good to be true as we rank 10 of the greatest moves which failed to happen. Oh, what might have been...
By Patrick Reilly
Jul 18, 2010 1:30:00 PM
10) Frank Worthington: Huddersfield Town - Liverpool (1972)
Worthington followed in the footsteps of George Best by combining peerless footwork on the pitch with an equally voracious appetite for all the good things in life off it. He was all set to sign for top dogs Liverpool in 1972 but failed a medical due to high blood pressure, mainly as a result of to his legendary prowess in the bed hopping stakes. Manager Bill Shankly remained keen on the player and told him to take a rest and come back for another medical afterwards. True to form Worthington went on holiday and partied hard for a few weeks. He came back and failed the medical again. The move fell through with Worthington quipping: "I just saw it as their bad luck." Still, he did score this beauty some years later.
9) Ronaldinho: Paris Saint Germain - Real Madrid (2003)
Ronnie nearly signed for Scottish minnows St. Mirren in 2001 to get used to European football before a fake passport scandal intervened. Two years later he was close to joining Manchester United until he eventually plumped for Barcelona. The Brazilian was considered to be too 'ugly' for Real Madrid's Galacticos, who signed David Beckham instead. Ronaldinho won everything in sight with the Catalans, even earning a standing ovation from the Bernabeu after a virtuoso display in 2005.
8) Preben Elkjaer: Lokeren - Arsenal (1984)
A star of Denmark's 1986 World Cup side, Elkjaer was being lined up for a switch to England two years earlier. The Gunners hesitated and took a punt on the more industrial Paul Mariner, who was already 31 and the former Ipswich player did precious little in his time at Highbury. Elkjaer meanwhile moved to Serie A and played a huge part in Verona's unlikely Scudetto triumph in 1984-85.
7) Luis Figo: Sporting Lisbon - Parma/Juventus (1995)
At the age of 22 Figo was all set to make his move from Portugal to the top league of the 90s - Serie A. He made the mistake of signing deals with both Juventus and Parma, who were both chasing his signature, and it didn't go down well with the authorities. Figo was slapped with a two-year ban on moving to Serie A so he had to switch to Barcelona instead. The Portuguese maestro would move to the peninsula a decade later with Inter after succeeding with Barca and Real Madrid.
A star of Denmark's 1986 World Cup side, Elkjaer was being lined up for a switch to England two years earlier. The Gunners hesitated and took a punt on the more industrial Paul Mariner, who was already 31 and the former Ipswich player did precious little in his time at Highbury. Elkjaer meanwhile moved to Serie A and played a huge part in Verona's unlikely Scudetto triumph in 1984-85.
7) Luis Figo: Sporting Lisbon - Parma/Juventus (1995)
At the age of 22 Figo was all set to make his move from Portugal to the top league of the 90s - Serie A. He made the mistake of signing deals with both Juventus and Parma, who were both chasing his signature, and it didn't go down well with the authorities. Figo was slapped with a two-year ban on moving to Serie A so he had to switch to Barcelona instead. The Portuguese maestro would move to the peninsula a decade later with Inter after succeeding with Barca and Real Madrid.
6) Johan Cruyff: Ajax - Dumbarton (1982)
Along with Ronaldinho's crazy transfer to St.Mirren, Cruyff was another legend who almost ended up in Scotland. The Dutch master was wooed in the early 80s, when he was in the midst of a contract dispute with Ajax, by the plucky second division outfit. Sadly for headline writers the transfer didn't happen, ensuring 'Cruyff's Dumb Move' never made the front page.
Along with Ronaldinho's crazy transfer to St.Mirren, Cruyff was another legend who almost ended up in Scotland. The Dutch master was wooed in the early 80s, when he was in the midst of a contract dispute with Ajax, by the plucky second division outfit. Sadly for headline writers the transfer didn't happen, ensuring 'Cruyff's Dumb Move' never made the front page.
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