5 world-class players Chelsea almost signed in the past

#3 Ronaldinho | Barcelona legend

UEFA Champions League - Barcelona v Chelsea

Ronaldinho had just finished his debut La Liga season, scoring 22 brilliant goals for Barcelona, so he was clearly on the transfer radar of every massive European club. Chelsea specifically seemed very intent on ensuring that the Samba superstar joined the Blues in the Premier League, and they reportedly offered £50 million to Ronaldinho.

However, the star was unmoved. He committed his future to Barcelona with a new contract that included a €150 million transfer clause, a massive amount of money for a player in 2007.Chelsea eventually brought in Florent Malouda that same summer, conceding their key transfer target to Barcelona.

---

#2 Sergio Aguero | Manchester City legend

Manchester City v Everton - Premier League

The idea of a partnership between Didier Drogba and Sergio Aguero manning the frontline at Stamford Bridge seems like such a far-fetched dream, but if things had gone a little differently, that's exactly what would have happened. While the star was still at Atletico Madrid, his scintillating performances against Chelsea in the Champions League piqued the interests of the Blues.

They tried to get the player, even agreeing on a transfer fee with Atletico, but Aguero's wage demands were too high for Chelsea. Perhaps the Blues weren't willing to pay exorbitant amounts to a 21-year-old, or they just didn't believe he was worth so much, but that's how the deal fell through. Aguero would go on to join Man City where he scored 15 goals in 22 games against Chelsea across a decade.

---

#1 Neymar | PSG star

Paris Saint-Germain v Manchester City: Group A - UEFA Champions League

Neymar's partnership with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at Barcelona was deadly for most defenses in the world. His current partnership with Messi and Kylian Mbappe at Paris Saint-Germain could potentially ensure the Parisians' first Champions League title. However, before he made the move from Santos to Barcelona, Chelsea tried to buy the superstar.

In Neymar's words, Santos had promised to make him a national hero if he chose to remain in Brazil:

My father and I had a meeting with president Luis Alvaro at the Santos headquarters inside the Vila Belmiro. Chelsea had made a huge transfer bid. In the middle of our conversation, the president turned off the lights and pointed at an empty chair. ‘This is the chair of the great national sports hero. Since Ayrton Senna’s death, this chair is vacant. If Neymar Jr stays in Santos and refuses Chelsea’s proposal, he will give his first step to sit in this chair.’

The transfer bid from Chelsea was rejected, but three years later, Barcelona would come calling and Neymar would change his mind.