The 10 Most Annoying Transfer Sagas of the 21st Century

By: Daryl | March 4th, 2009

Real Madrid’s presidential elections have been announced for July 5th. Which means at least one potential president will promise to deliver Cristiano Ronaldo to the Bernanbeu, and the world’s longest running transfer saga will be brought back to life like the unkillable zombie it is.

Clearly, CR to RM is the most drawn out and annoying transfer in human history. If you were to make a list of the top 10 most annoying transfer sagas of the 21st Century, C-Ron would sit proudly on top. I know this because I just did, and he does.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo, Man Utd to Real Madrid
The worst thing is that it’s not even over yet. Get ready for more this summer.

2. David Beckham, LA Galaxy to AC Milan
Just the for crushing inevitability of the loan becoming permanent, and MLS’ failure to put up a decent fight.

3. Patrick Vieira, Arsenal to Real Madrid
Seemed like every summer, Arsenal’s main man was heading for Bernabeu. And then he joined Juventus.

4. Steven Gerrard, Liverpool to Chelsea
Before Liverpool won the Champions League, this really looked like happening. And the reasons for it being called off at the last minute are a little bit murky.

5. Kaka, AC Milan to Man City
Just for the sheer silliness of it.

6. Gareth Barry, Aston Villa to Liverpool
‘Pool wouldn’t meet Villa’s asking price. And yet they still expected Martin O’Neill to cave.

7. Dimitar Berbatov, Spurs to Man Utd
Was always going to happen. But it took all summer and then all of August to get done.

8. Zinedine Zidane, retirement to MLS
Zizou retired from football in 2006, and yet the rumours linking him to the USA continued for the next two years.

9. Andrei Arshavin, Zenit to North London
Fist it was Spurs, and then it was Arsenal. And then they couldn’t figure out who needed to be paid what. And if it hadn’t snowed, the deal might not have gone though at all. Also, AA really wanted to go to Barcelona.

10. Carlos Tevez & Javier Mascherano, Corinthians, West Ham, MSI, Liverpool, Man Utd
Transfers from one club to another are complicated enough, but this introduced a third party into the equation. And the mess that was created by their move to West Ham is still being untangled, with Tevez’ future at Man Utd being undecided.

Apologies for the Premier League centric nature of this list. I’m not sure whether this just reflects the rumours that I read, or whether the Premier League just has longer and more torturous transfer sagas than all other leagues combined.

Any more to add to this list?

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Category: World Football

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Andrew

As a German, I have to put Mario Gomez to Bayern on my list.

O and also, Anyone of note to Newcastle.. haha what a laugh, and so annoying
martin

Beckham to Real, or Van Nistelrooy to Man Utd?
Mike

How about the multiple rumors of Drogba, Lampard, Essien or anyone on Chelsea that had been previously coached by Mourinho to Inter.....

I honestly think that the Arshavin saga was the worst because Arshavin wanted to go, Arsenal needed him, they started talking, and it still took them multiple months....

http://ilmondodicalcio.blogspo...
Johonna

Or the horrible Lampard to Inter over the summer.

Blech
Gary

I really think that Bendter from whereever he was plucked from to Arsenal is the most disgraceful and the silliest ever! Never mind that he scored 2 against WBA...
Scouser

"An hour after the window was slammed shut Arsenal are still trying to smuggle a tricky Russian forward through the back door."
Geoff

Let's not forget Amauri to Juve. That only took the better part of a season to hash out...
Laurie

Zizou retired from football in 2006, and yet the rumours linking him to the USA continued for the next two years.

You say that like this is a BAD thing. ;-)
daman

I am not sure how many of these so called "expensive" transfers are good for a clubside ..money can't buy you trophies...
Danny

Becks to Real in 2003
Diane

p.s. Can you do one about the most hilariously contradictory remarks -- the more adamant the better -- amongst owner/coach/manager/sporting-directors during a given transfer season. Maybe that would overload the site ;-) .
Diane

Everyone to Real every single year. But what about poor Robbie Keane. It may not have been a drawn out initial transfer but wouldn't a transfer, torture, and second transfer in the space of six months count for honorable mention?
Mat

Kaka to Real every single year??
Paddy

I think the Barry one was equally annoying as the Ronaldo one last summer. The Veron to United one seemed to last forever too I remember
Nelson

Figo from Barca to Real

Spent the whole summer pledging he wouldn't, and went anyway

I think that was 2000? So it counts as 21st century