If things had gone United's way, these two could currently be playing on the flanks at Old Trafford
Manchester United are not the sort of club who often miss out on transfer targets.
As one of the richest football clubs on the planet, The Red Devils have money to splash on marquee signings. Let's not forget the £89million they spent on Paul Pogba is the most any club has ever paid for a footballer.
However…
As David Moyes was keen to point out ahead of his Sunderland's visit to Old Trafford, he thought the club were signing a whole host of superstars ahead of his appointment as manager in 2013. The Scotsman believed he was getting Gareth Bale, Cesc Fabregas and Cristiano Ronaldo…and ended up with Marouane Fellaini.
That probably sounds unlikely - but there are a surprising number of superstars who have slipped through United's grasps over the years.
Admittedly, this isn't the most balanced side in the world… but just imagine if Sir Alex Ferguson, David Moyes et al had actually signed up this lot:
1. Gianluigi Buffon
In both 2009 and 2010, the most expensive keeper in history was linked with a move to Old Trafford. He was even (reportedly) seen house-hunting in Manchester. And if you live in Italy, Manchester isn't where you go for a holiday, is it?
2. Alessandro Nesta
All the way back in 2002, Sir Alex Ferguson admitted he was hoping to sort out a deal for the Italian legend. "Hopefully, we'll get something done before the start of the season," he said. "We are not over-confident but we are going to work hard at it." Not hard enough, clearly.
3. Gerard Pique
In 2008, United let 21-year-old Pique join Barcelona. Pique is now one of the world's best centre-backs. United have been playing Marcos Rojo in the centre of their defence. Enough said.
4. Mats Hummels
The German World Cup winner has been linked with a Man United move so many times over the last couple of years, it seemed like a transfer was inevitable. It wasn't.
5. Cesc Fabregas
Do you think David Moyes still wakes up in the middle of the night thinking, "Why the HELL didn't they just give me the money to sign Fabregas?"
6. Ronaldinho
The toothy Brazilian (and exceptionally talented player) once admitted he was 48 hours from signing for United in 2003 - just before Barcelona hijacked the deal. Still, United did end up with Cristiano Ronaldo instead, so it wasn't all that bad…
7. James Rodriguez
When he was a teenager, the World Cup Golden Boot winner and Real Madrid maestro was offered to Man United for £5m. Sir Alex chose to spend £7m on Bebe instead - a player who never started a Premier League game. Proof that even the greatest managers can make the occasional gaffe call.
8. Eden Hazard
When he was set to leave Lille in 2012, the Chelsea star got as far as having personal conversations with Sir Alex. Then another conversation with a certain Roman Abramovich suddenly made up his mind…
9. Gareth Bale
Sir Alex is still stewing over this one, claiming that Bale was due to sign for him - not Spurs - when he left Southampton in 2007. "We were first there, but Southampton never came back to us. We were disappointed in that." No kidding.
10. Karim Benzema
According to the Frenchman himself, Man United tried to sign the him every summer between 2008 and 2011. United aren't exactly short of strikers now - but that was the period when they had Gabriel Obertan on their books.
11. Alan Shearer
The man that went begging not once, but twice. He turned down a move to The Old Trafford for Blackburn in 1993 and for Newcastle in 1996. Now that's got to hurt…
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