Zinedine Zidane is one of the most recognised names in football. He has won almost everything there is to be won in football and will forever go down as one of football’s greatest but things could have been a lot different for the French midfielder thanks to two Premier League clubs.
Would you believe me if I told you that Blackburn Rovers turned down an offer to sign Zinedine Zidane because they had Tim Sherwood? Yes, you read it right, that was the reason given by the late Jack Walker, then owner of Blackburn Rovers, for rejecting an offer to sign one of the greatest footballers ever.
Zidane was also linked to Newcastle who turned him down because the club authorities believed he was not good enough to play the Premier League.
Zidane, who was then playing for Bordeaux, did eventually move to Juventus in 1996 where he won the Serie A twice, the Supercoppa Italiana, the UEFA Super Cup, the Intercontinental Cup and the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1999.
Zizou then went to Real Madrid in 2001 where he won numerous leagues and cup titles including the Champions League in 2002. Full stats here.
Just imagine what might have happened if one of either Blackburn or Newcastle had actually signed him.