Vincent Kompany may have felt that he missed out on the possibility of back-to-back Premier League titles and a Champions League when he rejected the advances of Chelsea as an 18 year old in 2005. At the time, the Anderlecht prodigy explained his decision, claiming that the Premier League champions were simply a factory.
''Chelsea came in for me a year-and-a-half ago, but I refused, although I could have doubled what I had at Anderlecht. But I am not crazy, I saw enough examples of others. Chelsea are a factory. I do not doubt my qualities to make it at Chelsea, it is possible to still go there later. But I would rather never go to Chelsea, than go at a bad moment. - Vincent Kompany, August 2006.
Instead, the 20 year old centre-back was snapped up by Hamburg for £5 million, before he departed for Manchester City two years later, where he would captain the side to two Premier Leagues and an FA Cup. While it looks set to be an intriguing tussle at the top between Kompanys side and Mourinhos Blues, there is no doubting that for the last few years, Manchester City have reigned supreme over their financially endowed counterparts from west London.
''Nothing is short-term here. Everything is geared towards being successful now and in the future - and you can only do that if the club is stable. There are big things to come from this club, believe me. - Vincent Kompany, September, 2014.
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.
