Manchester United attracted the very biggest names in football during the Alex Ferguson era but World Cup winner Ronaldinho proved out of reach.
Ronaldinho was in negotiations over a move from Paris Saint-Germain to Man Utd after the World Cup in 2002 but a promise to incoming Barcelona president Sandro Rosell took him to Spain instead.
"It almost happened with United. It was a matter of 48 hours, but Rosell had told me way before I got the offer: 'If I become Barca president, will you come?' I said yes," Ronaldinho once told the press.
"It was only a matter of details with United when Rosell called to say he was going to win the election there. And I had promised to him that I’d play for Barca."
Advert
The rest is history. Ronaldinho continued his ascent to greatness, the trophies he won at Barcelona overshadowed by the admiration of fans of the beautiful game around the world.
But Man Utd did sign a Brazilian World Cup winner in the summer of 2003 and he expected his international team-mate to be heading for the Premier League with him.
Kleberson was a major contributor to Brazil's fifth World Cup win and was in demand the following season.
He told FourFourTwo: "There were two clubs interested in signing me: Manchester United and Leeds. It was an easy choice, but there’s a funny story about it, too. When [Manchester] United’s interest in me was confirmed, I was with the national team in France for the FIFA Confederations Cup.
"I can remember it clearly: I was with Ronaldinho and his brother/agent, Assis. Ronaldinho said, ‘They want to sign both of us’ and I said, ‘OK, let’s go, then!
"I was so glad that he would be coming with me."
He didn't, of course. Kleberson was unveiled next to Cristiano Ronaldo instead and the former Atletico Paranaense youngster's time in Manchester didn't go to plan.
He made just 20 appearances in the Premier League and didn't win too many fans in the stands or in the dressing room, reportedly falling short of Roy Keane's expectations with predictable results.
"I went back to Brazil and kept negotiating with United, but then Ronaldinho fooled me and went to play in the warm weather at Barcelona! He sent me to Manchester," said Kleberson.
"That’s a joke between us until today. He knows that he owes me one."
Kleberson left Man Utd for Besiktas in 2005 and returned to Brazil two years later, playing for Flamengo and Bahia as well as on loan at Paranaense.
After another loan spell in Major League Soccer with Philadelphia Union, the midfielder saw out his playing career with Indy Eleven and Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the briefly relaunched North American Soccer League.
Topics: Ronaldinho, Manchester United, Man Utd
Chris Nee