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Manchester United are one of the biggest football clubs in the world. The Red Devils' rich history and pedigree make them one of the most enticing destinations for top players in the game.
Manchester United have always been known for producing prodigious talent through their youth academy over the years. But the club has also never shied from spending big money to sign some of the best players in the world.
The 13-time Premier League champions have spent big to land the likes of Eric Cantona, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Robin van Persie, Angel Di Maria and Paul Pogba, to name a few.
Five big-name players who chose not to move to Manchester United
However. not all big-name players see Manchester United as a viable destination. In recent times, players have rejected moves to Manchester United because of the club's indifferent performances.
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On that note, let's take a look at five players who declined moves to Manchester United:
#1 Cesc Fabregas
Cesc Fabregas was widely regarded as one of the Premier League's best midfielders during his time with Arsenal. The Barcelona youth academy product spent eight years with the Gunners before rejoining Barcelona in 2011 in a deal worth £35 million.
During his time at Barcelona, Fabregas was often used as a 'false nine' or get demoted to the bench, as Pep Guardiola preferred to play Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets ahead of the former Arsenal man.
Cesc Fabregas was often linked with a move back to the Premier League. In the summer of 2014, the Spaniard was heavily linked with a move to Manchester City and Manchester United. Manchester United infamously made three unsuccessful bids to sign the Spanish midfielder.
"After the week, I had to take my chance, I had Manchester City, United and then I spoke to Mourinho ,which I didn’t think would ever happen," Fabregas told Arsecast.
"To be honest, after I left the room with Mourinho I said, 'that’s it, I don’t need to talk to anyone else. I’m going to Chelsea.' What he told me, the team he wanted to make, what he thought of me, how he wanted me to play, this is what I wanted. On top of that, it’s London and not Manchester; London was my home."
Fabregas eventually chose Chelsea ahead of Manchester United and Manchester City.
#2 Toni Kroos
The German midfielder rose to prominence during his time with Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
Toni Kroos' exemplary performances for Germany in the 2014 FIFA World Cup caught the attention of a number of Europe's top clubs. He eventually joined Real Madrid, with whom he has won three Champions Leagues and two La Liga titles.
Prior to his move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2014, Kroos was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United. The midfielder reportedly had conversations with then United manager David Moyes and had agreed to join the Scotsman at Old Trafford prior to his sacking.
"I knew before that Manchester wanted me. Moyes underlined that absolutely. It was a really nice afternoon with very nice people. We talked a lot about United's footballing plan, which convinced me. In the end, we agreed to do it. We agreed verbally," Kroos told GQ Magazine. I am not somebody who worries about contingencies. Yes, it was close. I almost went to Manchester United. But it did not happen that way."
Kroos eventually rejected a move to Manchester United after the club sacked David Moyes. He eventually joined Spanish giants Real Madrid, and the rest, as they say, is history.
#3 Gareth Bale
During his final three seasons at Tottenham Hotspur, Gareth Bale, a Manchester United target, was widely regarded as one of the top ten players in the world.
In 2011 and 2013, he was named the PFA Players' Player of the Year. In 2013, Bale was also named the PFA Young Player of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season.
The Welshman was heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2013. Manchester United, though, looked to hijack Los Blancos' deal for the winger. The club reportedly offered Bale more money, but the Tottenham man had his heart set on a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.
"Gareth Bale was probably the first name I thought of when I got the job,” Moyes told football365. “I thought Gareth Bale was a Manchester United player. He was the right type.
Moyes continued:
“United have a great history of wide players, with George Best to Ryan Giggs and a whole lot of other brilliant ones in between. I wanted Gareth Bale to be my first signing at Manchester United. But it was already down the road a bit with Real Madrid. I tried to hijack it. I tried to get him. Manchester United offered more money than Real Madrid. They offered more money to the player."
#4 Ronaldinho
Prior to his move to Barcelona in 2003, Ronaldinho was plying his trade in France with Paris Saint-Germain. The Brazilian maestro was well on his way to becoming one of the greatest players the game has ever seen.
Ronaldinho was reportedly close to signing for Manchester United, but the deal went south after the English club failed to agree terms with the superstar's agent.
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes revealed that the club was very close' to signing Ronaldinho. Sir Alex Ferguson later blamed former Manchester United chief executive Peter Kenyon for losing out on Ronaldinho to Barcelona.
"There was a problem with his brother, who was his agent, but Peter Kenyon, who was chief executive then, didn't get the job done," the former Manchester United manager said.
#5 Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer was one of the greatest goalscorers the Premier League has ever seen. The Englishman still holds the record for the most Premier League goals (260) scored by any player. He made a name for himself during his time with Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United.
The striker is also renowned for rejecting a move to Manchester United not once but twice. Shearer rejected the advances of Manchester United prior to his move to Blackburn Rovers and also decided against joining Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford prior to his move to Newcastle.
Former chairman Martin Edwards revealed details about Manchester United's failure to sign Shearer in 1996.
Edwards worked at the club for over 30 years and claimed it was Blackburn owner Jack Walker who put the brakes on the transfer. He also said the player had met Ferguson and reportedly agreed to join Manchester United.
"I'd actually done a deal as far as Alan Shearer's contract was concerned; we'd come to a settlement," Edwards said on Beyond the Page on NBC Sports, where he was promoting Red Glory, a book about his time at the club.
Edwards continued:
"Shearer had been to Alex Ferguson's house, spoke to him and assured him he wanted to come. The problem, I think, was with the chairman of Blackburn, Jack Walker, who was not a great fan of Manchester United; (we were) local rivals, both Lancashire clubs."
Edwards concluded that Shearer didn't come to Manchester United, as he didn't want to upset Walker, a father figure for the player, saying:
"He didn't want Alan Shearer to come to Manchester United. Shearer was quite close to Walker, who was like a father figure to him, and I don't think Alan wanted to upset him by coming to United. And I'm not sure Jack would have let him come anyway, whereas he was happy for Alan to go to Newcastle; I don't think that was a threat to him."
