2. Wesley Sneijder
Adam Davy/EMPICS SportYears before the on-again-off-again pursuit of Cesc Fabregas, Manchester United were desperate to sign Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder. Sneijder was considered by many to be one of the very best players in his position, and in 2010, United tried persistently to bring him to Old Trafford, though the Dutchman rejected their advances to remain at Inter under new manager Rafael Benitez. That decision would go on to blow up in his face in the most remarkable of fashions. A year later, in 2011, Inter realised they had to slash their wage bill to comply with Uefa's financial fair play regulations or face being chucked out of the Champions League. High-end earners like Samuel Eto'o and Maican were moved on, but the club's biggest earner, Sneijder, remained. Inter told the Holland star to either accept a pay cut to stay at the club, or never play again, and Sneijder ended up
rotting away on the bench for four months as his contract dispute rumbled on. Eventually, he was sold to Galatasaray, but is wasted on the lesser Turkish league and must know he could have been a smash hit for Manchester United in the Premier League.