10 Players Nobody Expected Man Utd To Sign

6. Henrik Larsson

Bowing out at the top-level of European football with that perfect match-winning cameo in the 2006 Champions League final in Paris against Arsenal was such a fitting way to go for Henrik Larsson. Throughout his long and distinguished career, the prolific hit-man had terrorised defences for Sweden, Feyenoord and Celtic, scoring an incredible tally of 242 goals in 313 appearances in Scotland. Having reached the end of his stay at Barcelona, it was a perfect end to his time at the top-level, as he was introduced late in the second half, before assisting both goals as Barcelona came from a goal down to defeat Arsenal 2-1 and claim the coveted prize. Having announced in December 2005 that he would be leaving the club to return to his homeland to end his career, it was a goodbye to one of the greatest strikers of the 21st century. Or was it? If ever there was a transfer pulled from left field, this was it. With Larsson seemingly having disappeared to Sweden with his native Helsingborgs, the announcement arrived in December 2006 that Manchester United had sealed the loan signing of the former Celtic hit-man for three months.

''United have been after me before, after the first or second season with Celtic. It feels good to come and play for such a big club. I may not start every match, but it feels like a fun thing.۪۪ - Henrik Larsson, December 2006.

With forwards Ole Gunnar Solksjaer and Alan Smith spending time in the infirmary, the club were short of options up front, with only Wayne Rooney and Louis Saha as the only recognised forwards, so the move for the classy Swede seemed to make sense, despite his age. He would go on to score three goals in 13 appearances, leading many at the club to try and persuade him to stay, but his word had been given to Helsingborgs that he would return.