Soccer Transfers: 7 Unusual Rumors from Recent History

Newspapers these days are rife with rumours linking players with moves from club to club and league to league.

Reading Michael Cumming's recent article about the 10 Big Transfers That Could Have Happened but Never Did reminded me of some of the more unusual transfer rumors of the last 20 years.

I have compiled a list of six that spring immediately to mind.

Some were just marketing ploys but all were grounded, however tenuously, in reality.

Ronaldinho to St Mirren 2001

At the time he was a highly rated prospect with a summer move to Paris Saint Germain already set in stone.

Once that deal was confirmed Ronaldinho refused to return to Gremio for the 6 month period in advance of the move and was left in limbo.

He sought a loan deal in Europe to speed up his acclimation and retain peak physical condition.

Where better to start than the cold damp confines of Paisley in the suburbs of Glasgow?

Unfortunately for St Mirren, and perhaps fortunately for Ronaldinho, his involvement in a fake passport scandal in Brazil held up the move and the paperwork couldn’t be completed in time.

St Mirren went on to be relegated that year, while Ronaldinho went on to a hugely successful European career at PSG, FC Barcelona and AC Milan before returning home.

Al-Saadi Gaddafi to Juventus 2003

Given his current circumstances, it might surprise some that Gaddafi spent 3 years as a professional footballer in Serie A, and was once linked with a move to Juventus.

The link had more to do with his father’s shareholding in the club than his ability, but he did manage to train with the first team squad.

The Juventus board, however, refused to sign him in what would have been no more than a publicity stunt.

He would eventually be signed by the enigmatic Luciano Gaucci of Perugia and got a total of 15 minutes of game time. He later went to Udinese where he fared even worse, totalling 11 minutes on the field.

Sampdoria were the final club to sign him but he never took the field wearing their colours.

Anthony Tohill to Man Utd 1995

Way back in 1995 Manchester United were linked with a move for a highly rated 24-year-old Irish midfielder.

The problem was the target’s name was Anthony Tohill, and he played Gaelic football rather than soccer.

At 6’4" and a gifted athlete it was clear to see why he may have attracted interest, but surely not from the reigning Premier League champions.

Maybe he thought he could follow in Kevin Moran's illustrious footsteps.

After a two week trial he returned home to continue his successful Gaelic Football career but likely didn’t hear from United again.

Diego Maradona to Dundee FC 2001

At the turn of the 21st century Dundee became a rainbow nations of sorts as they signed a host of foreign players.

Some were more successful than others, but it was an interesting time for the club.

Fans were shocked when they learned Claudio Caniggia had persuaded his friend and former teammate to join 'The Dark Blues'.

While it was only for a once-off friendly against his former club Napoli, it was still a coup.

Dundee could now boast that the World Player of the Century had lined up in their colours.

Maradona was in self-imposed exile in Cuba at the time but his appearance would be huge news.

Sadly his poor health and visa issues put paid to his appearance, and Dundee fans were left with wondering what might have been.

Danny Cipriani to Fulham/West Ham 2010

Cipriani clearly enjoyed the trappings that came with being a professional footballer, so the logical next step was to switch codes and try his luck.

A talented rugby player and England international, his career had gone off the rails after a string of injuries and late night indiscretions.

During the 2010 offseason he spent time training with Queens Park Rangers, Tottenham and Colorado Rapids to keep fit.

After a comment from Tim Sherwood complimenting his ability, the rumours gained weight to the point that Fulham and West Ham were linked with moves (by the Daily Mail) for the former QPR schoolboy.

Sadly for him the move never materialised, and two years later he is still trying to resurrect his rugby career with Sale Sharks. 

Hanna Ljunberg to Perugia 2003

Perugia fans must’ve been salivating when they opened their papers in the summer of 2003 to read a headline stating “Ljungberg in talks with Perugia”.

Sadly for them it wasn’t the effervescent Freddie Ljungberg but rather his namesake Hanna, then among the best female footballers in the world.

As alluded to in my opening slide, Perugia were fond of any media attention at the time, so this was one of a string of high profile unusual moves made by then Chairman Luciano Gaucci.

The move fell through and she retired in 2009 after a hugely successful career in the female game.

Faustino Asprilla to Darlington 2002

Another chairman in the Luciano Guacci mould was George Reynolds. Taking over his beloved Darlington in 1999, he promised fans the dawn of a new era.

He built a £20 million stadium named in his honour and promised some high profile transfers.

The most unusual of these was the signing of Faustino Asprilla, once the sixth best player in the world.

Promised a king’s ransom and awarded a work permit, Asprilla was paraded in front of 5,163 fans. All that was left to do was complete the medical and sign the contract.

Sadly for Darlington fans, Asprilla was spotted fleeing the country in the early hours of the morning aboard a flight to the Middle East and the move was dead.

Not much was heard from Asprilla again while Darlington went into administration in 2004 and now ply their trade way down in the Evo-Stick League Premier Division North.

Reynolds didn’t fare much better and has since gone bankrupt and spent over a year in jail for tax evasion.

Your Thoughts

Football is full of strange and unusual stories like this, and these are seven of the stranger ones I can remember.

I would love to hear of any wacky stories out there I may not have heard or have forgotten.