Transfers that did not happen, Part Three

1- Lothar Matthaus had an offer to join Real Madrid in the summer of 1991 and he himself was very eager to join them.

However, the Internazionale Milano management refused.

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, January 1991

(Lothar Matthaus, December 16, 1990, Internazionale Milano 1-Fiorentina 1)

2- Before joining Olympique Marseille in the summer of 1990, Ghana’s Abedi Pele had practically agreed to join Paris St. Germain from OSC Lille.

His previous spell (1987/88) at Olympique Marseille had not been a happy one and he was reluctant to rejoin, however, OM President Bernard Tapie convinced him to sign.

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, May 1993

(Abedi Pele, April 21, 1993, Champions League, Club Brugge 0-Olympique Marseille 1)

3- Following the 1982 World Cup, France and Bordeaux midfielder Alain Giresse had an offer to join Internazionale Milano.

Despite the lucrative offer, the long serving Bordeaux Captain chose to remain at home.

Photo From: Onze, March 1982

(Alain Giresse and Gaetano Scirea, February 23, 1982, France 2-Italy 0)

4-Aberdeen and Scotland midfielder Gordon Strachan had signed a pre-contract to join West Germany’s FC Koln in 1984.

Instead he joined Manchester United who had to pay a fee to Koln as compensation.

Photo From: World Soccer, February 1992

(Gordon Strachan scoring for Scotland, June 8, 1986, World Cup, West Germany 2-Scotland 1)

5-Real Madrid’s Mexican striker Hugo Sanchez almost joined Barcelona in 1991.

However, Barcelona were forced to pull out of the deal due to fans’ protests because of his history with Real.

Photo From: L’Annee du Football, 1988

(Real Madrid’s Hugo Sanchez vs. Porto during their Champions Cup Matchups in the Fall of 1987)