Monday, August 17, 2015

Transfers that did not happen, Part Thirteen

1- In November of 1985, Frank Arnesen had lost his first team spot at Anderlecht and was in danger of not making the national team in time for the Mexican World Cup in 1986. He disclosed in an Interview that Johann Cruyff was interested in signing him for his former club Ajax. Due to financial constraints Ajax were unable to sign him, As a result he joined archrivals PSV Eindhoven.

Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue 60, March 1985
(Frank Arnesen at Anderlecht)


2- In October 1978, Bayern Munich’s Uli Hoeness almost joined SV Hamburg after falling out with Manager Gyula Lorant.
However, the transfer fell through due to Hoeness’ refusal to undergo a medical test on his suspect knee, SV Hamburg had requested a thorough examination whereby his knee would have been opened up.
Photo From: Bild am Sonntag-EM 1972 Viertelfinale
(Uli Honess and Helmut Schoen, April 29, 1972, European Championship, England 1-West Germany 3)


3- Before joining Barcelona in 1980, there were reports that Bend Schuster had joined NY Cosmos from Koln.
The NASL’s players union blocked the move.
The Union were demanding the abolition of transfer fees and freedom of contatct.
Schuster was told the matter could take up to weeks or months, as a result he joined Barcelona.

Photo From: Mondial, New series, issue 21, December 1981
(Bernd Schuster at Barcelona)

4-In the summer of 1979, it was reported that Real Madrid were on the verge of signing PSV Eindhoven’s Rene van der Kerkhof.
However, nothing materialized and the deal was called off.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2027, February 12, 1985
(Rene van der Kerkhof)

5-In December 1988, Alex Ferguson was interested in obtaining Gary Lineker from Barcelona. However, Ferguson felt the price demanded was too high and lost interest. Lineker joined Tottenham at the end of that season.



Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue 97, April 1988
(Gary Lineker at Barcelona)


9 comments:

  1. My first contribution to this awesome blog. These are some examples, involving Spanish clubs, I can remember that could be used in this section:

    1- Jurgen Klinsmann was really in the verge to sign for Real Madrid at the end of the 1991-92 season, when Inter Milano wanted to get rid of their three panzers. Finally Real signed Ivan Zamorano from Sevilla CF and Klinsmann joined AS Monaco after the monegasque had exchanged him for PSG's George Weah.

    2- Two years later, summer of 1994, the same Zamorano didn't have the confidence of Real Madrid's new coach, Jorge Valdano after a very poor season, so Real Madrid was working in bringing Uruguayan Ruben Sosa from Inter Milano and they were so close but finally both Zamorano and Sosa stayed at their clubs. By the way, Zamorano fought for a spot in the first team and ended up displaying one of the best seasons in his career and, kinda curious, joined Inter two years later.

    3- Inbetween these two cases, summer of 1993, AFC Ajax's Dennis Bergkamp (one of the most sought-after players at that time) had to choose between Juventus and FC Barcelona (Johann Cruyff coined the phrase: “The problem with Bergkamp is that he has to choose between being very rich or simply rich”). Bergkamp chose to be very rich but not at Delle Alpi but at San Siro since he joined Inter Milano along with countryman Wim Jonk (probably one of the worst choices of his life).

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    1. thank you Antonio
      1-Right, Jurgen Klinnsman was approached by Leo Beenhakker and was his choice. But after he resigned following the last day defeat against Tenerife and Cop Del Rey Final loss against Atletico, the deal was called off.

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    2. i do remember reading that Valdano did not ant Zamorano initially, i did not know about Ruben Sosa being in the mix (thanks for the info)

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    3. Bergkamp refused AC Milan because they would not guarantee an automatic starter position, among other things

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    4. there is an excellent article on bergkamp, as to why he chose inter instead of the other two:
      http://inbedwithmaradona.com/journal/2015/4/7/bergkamp-inter

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  2. I think Real Madrid had an agreement with Ruben Sosa, who was willing to go to Madrid after the tough season with Inter and the strugglings with Bergkamp, but could not get a deal with Inter (probably due to economical terms, since Real Madrid was a club suffocated by debts at that time.

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  3. I think Real Madrid had an agreement with Ruben Sosa, who was willing to go to Madrid after the tough season with Inter and the strugglings with Bergkamp, but could not get a deal with Inter (probably due to economical terms, since Real Madrid was a club suffocated by debts at that time.

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  4. I remember hearing Valdano in a radio interview saying that he did not want Zamorano in his team, and in case Ruben Sosa could not join Real his first choice as starter striker would be the Slovak Peter Dubovsky, who had been a bench player for two years.

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  5. I remember hearing Valdano in a radio interview saying that he did not want Zamorano in his team, and in case Ruben Sosa could not join Real his first choice as starter striker would be the Slovak Peter Dubovsky, who had been a bench player for two years.

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