Just like the failed transfer of N’Golo Kanté to Fenerbahçe or that of Jean-Philippe Mateta to AC Milan, sometimes transfers fall through at the very last moments of the transfer window.
So, let’s take a look back at some of the most memorable examples.
Hakim Ziyech: from Chelsea to PSG
Back at the start of 2023, Paris had a very quiet winter transfer window with no arrivals. However, the Parisians decided to make a move at the last minute and set their sights on Hakim Ziyech, who was struggling at Chelsea.
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The two clubs agreed on a loan for the Moroccan international. However, the LFP never approved the transfer, as the player’s contract arrived too late.
For their part, PSG blamed Chelsea for being negligent in sending the documents. As a result, Paris did not sign any players that winter.
David De Gea: from Manchester United to Real Madrid
Speaking of administrative mix-ups, here’s one that made headlines for days in Spain.
While Real and Manchester United had agreed on the transfer of the Spanish goalkeeper, the fax to confirm De Gea’s arrival was received at 12:02 am, three minutes after the transfer window closed.
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The transfer never happened and the goalkeeper remained at Manchester United until 2023, when his contract ended.
Luis Suarez: from FC Barcelona to Juventus
One of the most WTF stories of recent years. While his move to Juventus was almost finalized in 2020, it was still subject to a naturalization process. To validate it, the Uruguayan striker had to take an Italian language test, but it turns out the test was rigged.
According to Corriere dello Sport, the striker even admitted to Italian magistrates that he had received the questions and answers to the test by email a week before taking it. Luis Suarez ultimately signed with Atlético Madrid.
Park Chu-Young: from AS Monaco to Lille
This might be the most legendary scenario in the French transfer window. In the summer of 2011, Lille was set to sign Park Chu-Young from Monaco. Everything was done, the player had completed the first part of his medical and was supposed to finish it the next day before signing his contract.
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However, when a club representative arrived at the hotel early in the morning to pick up Park, neither the player, his agent, nor the translator were there. They had left during the night, without even paying for the hotel room.
The reason? Arsène Wenger simply snatched the player from Lille by offering more money to Park and AS Monaco. A low blow, but not necessarily a successful one, since the striker only played seven matches in four years with Arsenal.
Filip Kostic: from Frankfurt to Lazio Rome
In the summer of 2021, Lazio Rome was desperately looking for a winger and set their sights on Filip Kostic. Negotiations were tough and dragged on until the final days of the transfer window.
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But the transfer ultimately fell through because the Roman management allegedly sent their offer to the wrong email address. But the story doesn’t end there, because according to Sky Deutschland and the player’s agent, the German management had deliberately provided an incorrect address so that the transfer wouldn’t go through.
As a result, the summer transfer window closed in the meantime and the transfer never happened.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.
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