It’s easy to forget that there was a time when Leonel Messi could have signed for Manchester City, at the same time that Erling Haaland could have finished off his backyard rivals at Manchester United. How would the entire history of the Premier League have changed if Cristiano Ronaldo had gone to Arsenal instead of United in 2003?
Next, we ask ourselves “what would have happened?” if the most important signings of the great clubs in England had had a different outcome, analyzing the main ramifications (positive or negative) that they could have had on the future of each club in recent years.
MANCHESTER CITY: What if they had signed Messi in 2020?
Five titles in six years (and the treble this season) suggest that City have done very well without the signing of Messi. However, the club were keen to invest £100m for him to play for the Etihad in 2020 and leave Barcelona… a year before the Argentine star was reluctantly forced to sign for Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer . Messi can be considered the greatest footballer of all time and would surely have kept City a contender for major titles. Perhaps he would have even made the difference in those elusive Champions League a few years ago.
The club would not have invested £20.8m for winger Ferran Torres, and may have been without defender Ruben Dias (with a pass worth £61.6m) due to financial constraints this year, which would have been a blunder considering it has been one of the best defenders in the Premier League. Jack Grealish would also not have joined from Aston Villa for £100 million in 2021.
Messi could have shone under Pep Guardiola and the City brand (which has suffered against its rivals globally) would have received a gigantic boost. While it would have been a delight to watch Messi push himself in the Premier League, it’s likely City did the right thing in this one.
ARSENAL: What would have happened if Cristiano Ronaldo had signed for the Gunners instead of Manchester United in 2003?
This hypothesis would have changed the entire history of the Premier League as we know it. Cristiano lifted three consecutive titles (between 2006 and 2009) at United and forged a father-son relationship with then manager Sir Alex Ferguson. So it’s easy to imagine him doing the same with Arsene Wenger and Arsenal. And boy could he have done it!
The Gunners were “one step away” from signing the teenager gem from Sporting CP before Ferguson signed him for £12.24m after seeing his talents during a pre-season match against United in 2003. However, since his season at the “Invincible” in 2003-04, the club has not won another title.
The Portugal international would have hastened the end of Freddie Ljungberg’s career on the right flank, although it is also possible that Wenger turned him into a centre-forward to replace Thierry Henry in 2006. Could he have scored more goals from that position during his tenure? career? Regardless, he eventually ended up wearing the Real Madrid jersey.
CHELSEA: What if Steven Gerrard had signed for the Blues in 2005?
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard wearing the blue Chelsea shirt? It seems hard to imagine, but it almost happened before the England midfielder turned around and decided to stay at Anfield.
According to press reports at the time, Chelsea (backed by then-owner Roman Abramovich’s millions) tried to sign Gerrard for £37.5 million and the player was tempted after lifting the Champions League after that incredible comeback in Istanbul. The midfielder, considered the best player in Premier League history to never win the lightweight title, would surely have won more titles with Chelsea and, along with Frank Lampard, would have formed one of the best midfielders in history with Claude Makelele behind. Jose Mourinho’s 4-3-3 formation would have made the most of the talents of the duo, contrary to what was seen with the 4-4-2 system of the English team.
Chelsea won back-to-back crowns in the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons without Gerrard, but if they had signed him they would not have lifted just one more title in the next eight years. They would have dominated the Premier stage. And Gerrard couldn’t ever walk the streets of Liverpool again in his life.
MANCHESTER UNITED: If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had signed Haaland in 2018?
Solksjaer coached a teenage Haaland in the Norwegian Mold before he became a superstar with FC Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund and now Man City, the club he signed for last summer for £52 million. However, the former United manager asked the club to sign the gunner for £4 million in 2018 before taking over the Old Trafford bench that December, only to be met with refusal from club officials. Haaland’s 52 goals in 53 appearances for City this season (along with 86 in 89 appearances for Dortmund and 29 in 27 appearances for Salzburg) suggest he would have made a substantial impact at United despite his short age.
It is likely that Haaland did precisely the right thing for his football development by choosing to gradually increase his level, rather than launch himself into the waters of Premier League life at 18, especially considering that Mourinho would have been his first manager. Life inside the pressure cooker at Old Trafford has been too much for many young players and the Haaland family connection to City (his father Alfie played for the club between 2000 and 2003) wouldn’t have given him much time to earn his name. affection of the swollen Would he have won the treble in his first season at United? Very improbable.
LIVERPOOL: If Philippe Coutinho had stayed in 2018?
Surely Coutinho would be happier if he hadn’t left Anfield in January 2018. The Brazilian midfielder scored double figures in goals in his last three seasons at Liverpool (between 2015 and 2018) and was considered one of the best players in the Premier League. before his £135m move to Barcelona ruined his career, despite winning trophies (two LaLiga titles, a Copa del Rey at the Camp Nou, a Bundesliga, a German Cup and a Champions League during his tenure). assignment to Bayern) for which he left.
Liverpool used the money raised from Coutinho’s transfer to sign Virgil van Dijk (£75m), Fabinho (£40m) and Alisson (£56m). Without the depth these players bring to the table, the club would not have been able to end their long Premier League title drought or probably not have lifted the Champions League in 2019. Coutinho was pure class in the famous red shirt, but letting him go was the decision. correct.
However, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told Coutinho in May 2017: “Stay here and they will erect a statue in your honour. If you go to another team, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, you will be another player. Here, you can be something more.” It is likely that, if he had stayed with the Reds, Coutinho would have a statue on the outskirts of Anfield.
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TOTTENHAM: If Harry Kane had signed for Manchester City in 2021?
In this alternate reality, we assume that City did not sign Messi a year earlier. Therefore, the club decided to invest £150 million to sign Kane from Tottenham Hotspur, instead of the £100 million allocated to the signing of Jack Grealish. City could have been without Haaland the following season if they had signed Kane, although let me float this other possibility: the two play well together. Kane of ’10’, a position that he has assumed often in recent years, and Haaland ahead of him.
Tottenham would have lost their star, although they would have invested that £150m to sign Tommy Abraham from Chelsea (before he joined Roma), or perhaps Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, both valued at close to £ £40 million. In addition, they would have another £100 million to strengthen the depth of the rest of the squad. Despite the fact that the 2021-22 season was dominated by the quality displayed by Liverpool and City, Spurs would have been in a much better position to fight for a place in the top four in the Premier this season.
They would certainly have lost a legend. His all-time top scorer. But Kane would have a Premier League title in his cabinet (and he may have needed to buy a trophy cabinet) and Tottenham would be less dependent on one player.
2023-06-15 04:31:52
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