A new feature that I will be starting on this blog is about discussing player transfers that could have occurred but for various reasons fell through
1-Following the 1990 World Cup, newly promoted Serie A club Parma were very keen in acquiring West Germany’s Guido Buchwald.
The player himself was willing, however, his club Stuttgart categorically refused as he was irreplaceable in their eyes.
As a result Parma acquired Anderlecht and Belgium defender Georges Grun.
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Photo from: Onze, July 1986
(Georges Grun over Sergei Aleinikov with Stephane Demol looking on, June 15, 1986, World Cup, Belgium 4-USSR 3) |
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Photo from: Soccer International, August 1990
(Guido Buchwald, June 19, 1990, World Cup, West Germany 1-Colombia 1) |
2- Prior to signing for Olympique Marseille in the summer of 1986, French striker Jean-Pierre Papin was on the verge of joining AS Monaco from Club Brugge.
However, OM President Bernard Tapie persuaded Papin to come to Marseille.
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Photo from: World Soccer, June 1994
(Bernard Tapie) |
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Photo from: Onze-Mondial, January 1990
(Jean-Pierre Papin with OM) |
3- German striker Jurgen Klinnsman almost joined Real Madrid in the summer of 1992.
Klinnsman was to leave Italian club Internazionale Milano and had agreed with Real Madrid’s Dutch Manager Leo Beenhakker to join Real.
However, after Beenhakker was dismissed following Real’s defeat in the League title race and Copa del Rey Final, the deal was cancelled.
Real instead signed Chilean Ivan Zamorano from Sevilla and Klinnsman joined France’s AS Monaco.
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Photo from: Guerin Sportivo, October 14-20, 1992
(Jurgen Klinnsman with AS Monaco, 1992/93 season) |
4-Brazilian midfielder signed for Paris St Germain from Sao Paulo in the middle of 1992/93 season. He had the option to be loaned until the end of the season to Benfica, however, Rai refused and waited until the conclusion of the season to join PSG.
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Photo from: Onze-Mondial, June 1994
(PSG’s Rai and AS Monaco’s Claude Puel, 1993/94 season) |
5-During the 1987/88 season, Internazionale Milano acquired, from Porto, Algeria’s Rabah Madjer for the following season.
However, Inter pulled out of the agreement due to the fear that Madjer was injury prone.
They signed Argentinean striker Ramon Diaz instead from Fiorentina. |
Photo from: Onze, February 1988
(Rabah Madjer during his half-season loan at Valencia, January 10, 1988, Atletico Madrid 2-Valencia 1) |
One very interesting almost-transfer story happened here in Brazil in 1999.
ReplyDeleteFluminense FC (current Brazilian champions) had been relegated to 3rd division, and as an effort to come back, it built a whole new team.
The "star" of the new team would be Belgian goalkeeper Preud'homme. He even came to Rio de Janeiro for signing, but then negotiations failed and he returned back to Europe.
Anyway, Fluminense FC has won the 3rd division, and since 2000 it is fully back in the elite division of Brazilian football.
Regards from Rio,
Paulo Cezar (Jornalheiros)
Thanks Paulo
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the sharing of these stories and I hope many others would as well
A quick one: in 1988 the once glorious team Bologna came back in Italy's serie A. The team was great in the '30s and '60 but knew the shame of third division in the '80s.
ReplyDeleteWith an attacking football flair brought by manager Gigi Maifredi, hopes were high. When it came to reinforce the squad, observers came from south america with the chance to sign either Ivan Zamorano or Hugo Rubio. Obviously the second was chosen: an injury and his inadequacy to european football prevented him to shine, while the first one went one to became a top player in Real Madrid and Inter.
The next year, after managing to avoid relegation, once again Bologna had the chance to sign brazilian Romario, then still relatively accessible as far as prices where concerned, or Geovani (once the star of the Brazil youth side in the world cup in 1983). Of course, the board selected Geovani, who is mostly forgotten now and remembered in Bologna only for his incredibly attractive wife.
Yes Simone, I do remember the bologna interest on zamorano, geovani had been one of Brazil's top players in the Seoul olympics and many were grooming him to be the next great star of brazil, I seem to remember he played Brazil's first match in the 1989 copa America, then lazaroni drppped him
ReplyDeleteIn fact, Geovani played the three first matches of Brazil in the 1989 Copa America.
ReplyDeleteIn the 3-1 win over Venezuela, he scored a goal by a penalty kick. In the two next games, two draws (0-0 against Peru and 0-0 against Colombia), he was also in the team.
After these bad results, Lazaroni dropped him, in favor of Silas.
Right, thanks Paulo forgot about the other two matches
ReplyDeleteThanks to both: I seemed to remember he was a starter in C.A.'89. but not in the final stages (the forwards-midfielders were Romario, Bebeto, valdo dunga silas?).
ReplyDeleteGeovani's only moment of glory in Italy was a long distance shot that had Bologna win the Appenines derby against arch-rivals Fiorentina, in Florence (december '89). After that, he was dropped by Maifredi as well, because of his slow pace.
In the 1989 Copa America final game against Uruguay, Brazil lined up with:
ReplyDeleteTaffarel; Mauro Galvão, Aldair and Ricardo Gomes; Mazinho, Dunga, Silas (Alemão), Valdo (Josimar) and Branco; Bebeto and Romário.
Thank you Filho.
ReplyDelete