To their credit, Bolton don't get star-struck when dealing with former Real Madrid 'superstars', having signed former Galacticos Ivan Campo, Fernando Hierro and Nicolas Anelka in the past. Therefore, the Trotters had no qualms in staunchly returning to the most famous club on earth in a bid to prize away one of their longest-serving stars. Noticing that playmaker Guti was out of favour at the Spanish giants, Bolton boss Gary Megson attempted to cause further friction in the long-term relationship by enquiring about the availability of the 33 year old. The transfer looked like it had legs, as rumours began to gain pace heading into the January transfer window, when Megson was fired the day before it opened. His replacement Owen Coyle wasn't too forthcoming in his eagerness to continue making enquiries.
''Guti has always been a fantastic player, a top play in world football all his days, and I think what Allardyce did at this football club was unbelievable and all credit to him. But I haven't had any conversation about Guti with anybody.'' - Owen Coyle, January 2010.
Purely speculation of course, but could it have been that had Bolton kept Megson, that we could have been witnessing Guti pulling on a very different all-white strip?
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
