Top 5 crazy transfers that almost happened

#3 Rivaldo to Bolton Wanderers (2004)

Rivaldo was a Champions League winner with Milan.

It's tough to believe that a 32-year-old Rivaldo, two years after winning the World Cup, and five years after winning the Ballon d'Or, was as close to joining Bolton Wanderers out of all clubs. As crazy as it does sound today, it was somewhat believable fourteen years back. Sam Allardyce was doing bits with Bolton, led by the wonderful Jay-Jay Okocha, and were knocking on the doors of European football.

Bolton's good run interested Rivaldo, as did the money English football had to offer. However, there wasn't enough of the latter to interest Rivaldo enough, and he ended up joining Olympiacos. Fair play to the Brazilian, as we went on to score 43 goals in 81 games for the Greek giants, and became a cult hero.