10 Players Who Rejected Barcelona
6. Rio Ferdinand
During his prime, Rio Ferdinand was one of the finest defenders in world football. Forming a rock-solid partnership alongside Nemanja Vidic at Old Trafford, there was a reason why Ferdinand picked up 16 pieces of silverware, twice became the world's most expensive defender and captained his country during a glittering career.
Inevitably, when a player performs with such consistency and class over such a sustained period of time, they are bound to court interest from such of the continents elite clubs, and in Barcelona, Roma and Real Madrid, the former West Ham centre-half was met with a few high-calibre potential suitors.
''I spoke to Roma and also there was interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona at one time. But when I was at Manchester United and there was interest from other clubs I was winning things at Manchester United. So my head was never turned to go anywhere else. If Gareth Bale had been at Manchester United and winning trophies he wouldnt have gone to Real Madrid. I was just turned on by winning. I wasnt interested in going anywhere else. - Rio Ferdinand, August 2014.
A ball-playing centre-half, one would imagine that Ferdinand would have fit in perfectly at Barcelona, although just what ramifications would that have had for Gerard Pique's career? Roles switched perhaps?