5 players Manchester United hijacked from under their rivals' noses

Manchester United have been on the receiving end of many hijacked transfers in the recent past. The transfer fiasco of Eden Hazard is something Manchester United fans can never forget.

Also, the shocking transfer of John Obi Mikel is something everyone remembered for a long time. The Nigerian had not only agreed to join Manchester United, but he also signed a deal with them, but Chelsea came out of nowhere and signed him up.

Players like Arjen Robben, Lucas Moura, Thiago Alcantara, Pedro Rodríguez, and Aaron Ramsey have slipped from under the nose of the Old Trafford club.

However, Manchester United have also had their own share of hijacked transfers. They have stolen quite a few big names in the last few years. On that note, let's take a look at the list of top 5 players that Manchester United have hijacked from under their rivals' noses:

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#5 Lou Macari

Lou Macari - Legend and former Manchester United star

United midfield legend Macari was one of the best midfielders to have played at Old Trafford. He made 329 League appearances for the club and scored 78 goals during his 11 years stay with the English giants.

He was destined to play for Liverpool after agreeing to a deal with the Anfield club. However, Manchester United swooped in at the last minute and got one better of their bitter rivals.

Lou Macari was a star at Celtic and agreed to join Liverpool in 1973. With the deal done, he was invited to Anfield to watch Liverpool take on Burnley, where he accidentally sat next to United’s assistant manager Pet Crerand.

It all changed that moment and Lou Macari signed for Manchester United a few day later. Though he failed to win a lot of silverware at Old Trafford, his legacy has lived ever after.

#4 Roy Keane

United legend Roy Keane was close to joining Blackburn instead

Roy Keane will always remain a legend at Old Trafford. The midfielder played 480 times for Manchester United and led them to 7 Premier League titles, 4 FA Cup titles, and a UEFA Champions League title in his 13-year stay.

After a couple of great season with Nottingham Forest, Roy Keane was under the radar of top English clubs. Kenny Dalglish (then Blackburn Manager) agreed a £4 million deal with Nottingham Forest and a personal contract with Keane.

Then came the Old Trafford club. Ferguson gave him a call but the Irishman told United boss he had given his word to Dalglish. Ferguson never gave up and persuaded him to at least visit the club.

Keane, in his autobiography, wrote, “It was a persuasive argument. He was pushing at an open door". Since the contract was not signed with Blackburn, Dalglish could not prevent Keane from joining Manchester United. It was, indeed, one of the greatest hijacks of the 20th century.

#3 Dimitar Berbatov

Some jokingly claim that Sir Alex Ferguson kidnapped Dimitar Berbatov

Dimitar Berbatov was one of the best strikers to have played in Premier League. After a successful spell with Bayer Leverkusen and Tottenham Hotspur, the Bulgarian international was a wanted man amongst the top Europen clubs.

Manchester United were the front-runners to sign the Bulgarian but Manchester City swooped in with a late offer. Tottenham agreed to a deal to sell him to City but could not convince Dimitar Berbatov to join them.

The poor relationship between United and Spurs almost spoiled the deal but Ferguson took the matter into his own hands. Though Daniel Levy never wanted him to go to Manchester United, Berbatov’s ambition and United’s desire made the deal possible.

Berbatov said after the transfer, “ I am flattered that Sir Alex Ferguson gave me so much of his time. He personally came to pick me up at the airport. It was a shock to me”. After the transfer, some media reports sarcastically mentioned, "Ferguson kidnapped Berbatov from the airport".

#2 Romelu Lukaku

United snatched Lukaku from Chelsea

Manchester United got one better over the masters of transfer hijacks. Chelsea have been known for a number of transfer hijacks in the recent past, but were at the receiving end of the Lukaku deal when Mourinho snatched him from under the noses of Roman Abramovich and co.

Mourinho was looking for a striker in the transfer window ahead of the 2017/18 season, and Alvaro Morata was thought to be the no.1 target. Real Madrid played hardball with Manchester United because of the de Gea saga and rejected three of United's offers.

With 51 goals for Everton in his last two Premier League seasons, Romelu Lukaku was one of the hottest properties in Europe during the 17/18 transfer window, and Chelsea were the front-runners for his signature because of his past with the Premier League champions.

All of a sudden, out of nowhere, Manchester United announced that they had agreed a £75 million deal with Everton for the 24-year-old. Eventually, the Belgian international moved to Old Trafford days later, stunning the world with an outrageous plot-twist

#1 Alexis Sanchez

Manchester United's new no.7

The Alexis Sanchez transfer saga has finally come to an end. Manchester United signed the 29-year-old in one of the biggest transfer market steals of the century.

The Chilean is one of the best midfielders in world football right now. The 29-year-old has proved his mettle in La Liga with Catalan giants Barcelona, and in Premier League with Arsenal.

He is a technically gifted player with a lot of pace and energy., and is one of the most versatile players in Europe and is a deadly finisher. His work-rate and set piece abilities make him a valuable asset to any top teams.

Sanchez was touted to go to Manchester City, but Manchester United stunned their rivals with an irresistible offer for the Chilean international. Alexis Sánchez signed a four-and-a-half-year deal worth £14m-a-year after tax, which can be equated to approximately £350,000 a week (basic pay, not including image rights and bonuses).

He will wear the famous no.7 jersey at Old Trafford and is expected to make his Manchester United debut as early as Friday when United play Yeovil Town in the fourth round tie of FA Cup. He has scored 80 goals in 165 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal, since joining the Gunners from Barcelona in 2014, and has developed into a world-class player at the Emirates.