Sportskeeda's Top 6 transfer collapses

The transfer market is one of the most painful times for a fan. The anticipation surrounding the window is something that often gets to the nerves of many people. This player is going to sign for that club, that player is going to sign for this club… it is too much of a quagmire to deal with.

Waiting is never the best thing for one to do. It creeps out the very existence of the person waiting. So when a said player is supposed to be making a move to your favourite club, it is an exhausting endeavour to follow.

Sometimes, the transfer is just about another step to cross the finish line – and that’s when they break. And here are 6 of the top transfer collapses ever…

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#6 Frank Worthington – Liverpool

Worthington whilst playing for Leicester

One of the things about fame is that one actually has the privilege to become a playboy and have better luck with women than the common man. Frank Worthington was one of those Tony Stark-esque personalities minus the superhero suit.

Worthington lived a life of booze and women. His blonde-hair perfectly adorned his good-looks. This want for flesh actually cost him a transfer to Liverpool in 1972.

When Worthington turned up for the medical in 1972, he failed his tests due to high blood pressure while some say it was because of a Sexually Transmitted Infection. As a result, then Liverpool manager, Bill Shankly, asked the player to cool it off in Mallorca with a holiday break and return after a week.

But, as it turned out, he came back a week later and failed his medical yet again – because his pressure was even higher. The reason? In bed with two Swedish blondes, then a young Belgian beauty and a night with Miss Great Britain.

Oh, and also an airport hook-up with a random woman. All in the space of a week!

#5 Emmanuel Adebayor – Aston Villa

Adebayor and his salute-loving master

Remember the time Adebayor was a Real Madrid player? Yep, me neither. The Togolese player was one of the most talented footballers to come out of the African continent, but he didn’t live up to his potential because clubs never paid him enough money. Ahem.

So, in the summer of 2015, Spurs were keen on offloading the former Arsenal man off their wage bill. Adebayor agreed only on the condition that he would be paid a severance fee. Aston Villa came calling and he was all set to join his former manager and continue their salute marathons at Villa Park.

However, right after the medical was completed, Adebayor decided to call his pastor and take his advice over the move. Apparently, the holy man talked him out of the move and the former Manchester City striker saw it as a divine intervention.

Perhaps God is just an Aston Villa fan.

#4 David De Gea – Real Madrid

This could have happened had Real Madrid had the fax machine not intervened

Ever since the decline and eventual departure of Iker Casillas, Real Madrid have been actively linked with a move to the former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper. It is only natural; after all, De Gea has taken over the national team’s goal-guard reins from the former Real Madrid man.

And so the rumours began in full motion in the summer of 2015.The negotiations also began and it all looked set for the current Manchester United goalkeeper to become the numero uno at the Bernabeu while Keylor Navas was touted to go the opposite way. It was all pretty hampering for Keylor Navas, who was signed from Levante a season earlier, only to play second-fiddle to an out-of-form Casillas all season.

However, as the deadline time crossed and the window slammed shut, the deal died with it. Rumours have it Real Madrid’s fax machine was as efficient as Emile Heskey was in front of the goal and the necessary papers didn’t reach United at the proper time.

It seems as though the president has since spent a lot more cash on bringing in proper fax machines as Real Madrid haven’t had such issues after that.

#3 Robinho – Chelsea

Robinho had a less than fruitful time in England

When he was ripping apart opposition defences in Brazil, Pele did the thing he does best: call him the next Pele. The narcissism of Pele once again played against the once-talented Brazilian as he could never really reach his potential.

Robinho made his Madrid debut just 24 hours after landing in the city. And his debut was one of the best by any Real Madrid player of this era. At his best, it felt like his feet was in love with the ball – every dribble by him felt like his feet were making love with the ball. And like lovers promise each other to never let go of each other, the ball and Robinho shared the same feelings.

But, well, this is the 21st century and true love is a dying sight. Robinho didn’t keep his promise and wanted to leave Real Madrid after being irked by the club’s constant flirting with Cristiano Ronaldo. The Blancos were in advance talks with Chelsea in 2008, but the London club jumped the gun and started selling replica jerseys of Robinho on their website even before the deal was agreed.

According to Robinho, this didn’t go down well with the Blancos and they started negotiating with Manchester City, where he ultimately went.

“My main goal was to move to Chelsea – Big Phil had said I could make the difference for him as his squad, according to him, was not creative enough,” Robinho said to

“But Real Madrid had fallen out with Chelsea – they didn’t like them selling shirts with my name on before the deal had been done. I'm pretty sure that this error was one of the main reasons why the transfer failed, as it was a matter of pride for Real Madrid.

“They were also reluctant to let me move to a club that was playing in the Champions League the same season – Chelsea were, but City weren’t.”

In his first conference as a City player, Robinho actually said that he was happy to be at Chelsea, before being corrected that he is actually at Manchester City. Hilarious stuff.

#2 Willian – Tottenham

Willian has been a good performer for Chelsea

Not many Liverpool and Tottenham fans like this man for what he did to their clubs. However, fans of the latter should be much more agitated than the Reds. Willian Borges might have been one of Chelsea’s most consistent performers over the last few years, but he could very well have been playing in a Spurs shirt were it not for Roman Abramovic’s intervention.

After completing his medical at Tottenham Hotspur, all was set for the Brazilian to join Roberto Soldado and compatriot, Paulinho, at the White Hart Lane. As it turned out, Abramovich personally moved to call Anzhi – Willian’s then club – owner, Suleiman Kerimov, to strike a deal. Willian then became a Chelsea player, leaving Spurs completely outraged.

Of his move to Chelsea, Willian said: “I don’t know how I can explain that moment. But it was the best moment I think in my life when I signed with Chelsea because it was my dream to come here.”

He then revealed his reason to reject Spurs: “When I came I am very, very happy to play for Chelsea, to win titles here, so I am very, very happy… Yes, it was difficult. But I didn’t sign. When at the last moment Chelsea call me I say I’m sorry but I go to Chelsea, that’s my dream. I have to go there, I don’t care. I go there.”

That was pretty freaking brutal.

#1 Robert Lewandowski – Blackburn

Lewandowski is one of the best attackers in the world

Blackburn Rovers, it seems, have a history of not being able to sign world-class soon-to-be legendary players. At first, they refused to sign Zidane because “who needs Zidane when you have Tim Sherwood?”

When that mishap finally sunk in, they decided to invest in another talent over a decade later. So, in 2010, a 21-year-old kid was waiting at the airport to catch a flight to England with the intention of finalising a deal with Blackburn.

The flight was cancelled due to the ash-cloud that reigned over Europe due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland. Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund sneaked in and signed the youngster who now plays for Bayern Munich and goes by the name of Robert Lewandowski (actually, I just realised that all this suspense-building foreplay was for nothing because I have already given away the name above).

“I had the opportunity to join Blackburn, but I wanted to see how Blackburn looked, the training ground, the place I met with Sam Allardyce,” Lewandowski told The Times. “It was in Poland after a game. I thought he was a good guy, a very good coach.

“I think it would have been fine if I had gone to Blackburn, but I would have liked to go and see the training centre, the stadium. I couldn’t go because of the cloud. It was the volcano. The volcano with the ash cloud.

“It was one week and nobody could fly in Europe. The flight was booked, but we couldn’t leave. It changed my life. If I had gone to Blackburn maybe I would have stayed there.”

And destroyed Premier League defences, mind.