10 Most Shocking Hijacked Transfer Deals In Football History

The flamboyant Ronaldinho is undoubtedly one of the best players to ever kick a football and was certainly the most entertaining. Younger United fans will be disappointed to know that the eccentric Brazilian could have found residence at Old Trafford and not the Camp Nou, as he had already agreed to join during a conversation with Sir Alex Ferguson.

The player - who had become quite the star playing in France for Paris Saint-Germain between 2001-2003 - was attracting attention from just about everywhere, but United became frontrunners in the chase.

Everything seemed cut and dried, and the former Brazil international was only 48 hours away from putting pen to paper. However, a promise made to then-Barca president Sandro Rosell saw him join the Catalan side instead, following David Beckham's snubbing them to sign for Real Madrid.

Apparently, Ronaldinho had previously spoken to Rosell - whom he befriended while the latter was a Nike executive in Brazil - before he became president and the two had agreed that the player would join Barcelona if he came out on top of the club's presidential elections. The player has since admitted as much in an interview with FourFourTwo.

He proved to be an immense signing and his arrival led to La Blaugrana becoming relevant in Europe again.