Zion Suzuki and 9 other players that rejected Man Utd since Alex Ferguson retired

Japan international Zion Suzuki has turned down the chance to join Manchester United, according to reports.

The 20-year-old goalkeeper had been closely linked with a move to join Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils. He’s since confirmed that he had an offer, but rejected the club in favour of a loan move to Belgian club Sint-Truidense V.V as he prioritises more game time at this point in his fledgling career.

“I decided to transfer this time as a step up in aiming to be the best in the world. It’s true that there was an offer from Manchester United,” Suzuki said (via GOAL).

“As a football player and as a person, if I hadn’t thought about anything, of course, I would like to go to Manchester United, but among them, I really want to spend time thinking about what kind of future awaits me. After much thought, I made this decision.

“Manchester United have acquired [Andre] Onana. It’s important for me to participate in matches, and I think it is also important to play on the world stage. I want to make the most of what I have learned here and do my best.”

We’ve picked out nine other players who chose not to join the Red Devils since Ferguson left the club in the summer of 2013.

Gareth Bale

When Bale was set to leave Tottenham in 2013, there was only one destination he was ever going to end up at and that was Real Madrid.

However, that didn’t stop others from trying, and upon his arrival at the club, David Moyes wanted the Welsh superstar to be his first signing.

United offered more money than Real Madrid, but even the lure of playing with compatriot Ryan Giggs wasn’t enough to convince Bale, and he made a world-record move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

“I wanted Gareth Bale to be my first signing at Manchester United. But it was already down the road a bit with Real Madrid. I tried to hijack it. I tried to get him,” Moyes stated in 2020.

“Manchester United offered more money than Real Madrid. They offered more money to the player.

“We did everything we could to try and get the player,” Moyes added.

“We even had a helicopter at the training ground to take him and bring him back. We thought we had a chance. But he chose Real Madrid and he made a brilliant decision because he went on to win four Champions Leagues. He’s had a brilliant career.”

READ: 21 of the best bicycle kicks of all time: Ronaldo, Rooney, Bale…

Sadio Mane

The Senegal star was integral to Liverpool’s success since joining from Southampton in 2016, but things could have been very different, as he revealed that he nearly joined Manchester United instead.

“They made an offer, but in the same week, Klopp called me. He said: ‘I think it’s the right club,'” Mane stated in 2019.

“The right coach for me, and I think it’s better that I go to Liverpool. For me I think it was the right time as well. I said, ‘I am going to Liverpool.’

“At that time, leaving Southampton, I saw many clubs, but I think Liverpool is the right club for me. I play against Liverpool, I play against City, United, every team and I scored a lot against Liverpool when I was at Southampton, but still I thought this club is my club!”

Mane scored over 100 goals for Liverpool since, so it’s safe to say United missed out with this one.

Dimitri Payet

Dimitri Payet was the king of east London during his magical spell at West Ham United, but forced a move away in January 2017, ruining his legacy at the club to eventually rejoin Olympique Marseille.

Manchester United came in for the supremely talented playmaker when it was revealed that he had handed in a transfer request, but Jose Mourinho’s side were unable to land the Frenchman.

“I’m not someone who lives with regrets. I made a choice, which was just as much related to football as it was to family, to come back to Marseille,” Payet told RMC Sport last year.

“There were other clubs, big clubs. There were Manchester United and others. It was a personal and family choice. I think it was the best for me and my family.”

READ: Dimitri Payet is a football wizard and his golazos arrive when they mean to

Cesc Fabregas

Just two seasons after his big-money return to Barcelona from Arsenal, Spanish midfield star Cesc Fabregas was unhappy at his boyhood club, and was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United.

However, Fabregas wanted to give his Barcelona career more of a chance and chose to stay for one more season instead of joining David Moyes at United.

He did eventually leave, going to Chelsea and winning two Premier League titles, so it all worked out well for everyone… except United.

N’Golo Kante

Everyone’s favourite midfielder joined Chelsea immediately after winning the title with Leicester City in 2016, but almost chose Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United instead.

Mourinho had just strengthened his squad with the additions of Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, but wanted Kante to partner Pogba in midfield.

Kante opted for Chelsea and hasn’t looked back.

Jude Bellingham

The England international became one of European football’s hottest properties with Borussia Dortmund, who he joined in 2020 from Birmingham City, but United were one of many other clubs lining up for his signature.

Bellingham was even given a tour of United’s Carrington training ground, but he had his heart set on Dortmund.

“Well, you know, Man United have a great squad but my decision had nothing to do with Man United,” Bellingham told The Telegraph in 2020.

“I was so focused and so happy with the interest from Dortmund that this became my first choice. For me, it was Borussia Dortmund and that’s it.

“When you find somewhere that’s the best place to be, you kind of ignore everything else, you know what I mean?”

Bellingham has since joined Real Madrid as their marquee signing of the summer. What could’ve been, eh?

Alvaro Morata

The Spain striker, who joined Chelsea for around £55million in 2017, turned down an offer from Manchester United, who signed Romelu Lukaku in the same summer instead.

Neither signing worked out, and both left their respective clubs.

United have many regrets in recent years. This is not one of them.

Pedro Rodriguez

Manchester United’s dithering in the transfer window cost them yet another move, as their scattergun approach to transfers meant that a deal to sign Pedro had been agreed, then thrown out of the window.

The Barcelona star joined Chelsea in 2017 for around £22million, and fared pretty well before leaving in 2020.

“I had offers from other English clubs – Manchester United, City and Chelsea, who were the club that more rapidly resolved my transfer and the one that showed more interest in me,” the winger stated at his Barcelona farewell press conference.

“I’m very happy to be at Chelsea because it’s a club that, like Barca, are fighting for titles. But I haven’t gone to Chelsea just to work under Mourinho, but also because London attracts me as a city and I have friends at Chelsea.”

All valid reasons, but Pedro could have added a spark in attack which had been lacking at Old Trafford.

Erling Haaland

The Norway striker joined Dortmund in January 2020 from FC Red Bull Salzburg but could have joined United at the time.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was a Norway international striker in his playing days, was Manchester United manager and attempted to convince Haaland to choose them over Dortmund.

“I chose Dortmund because my feeling was best here,” Haaland stated when asked about rejecting United in 2020.

“It’s a massive club. I’ve always liked this club. When I mention it, I start to smile because I like the club and how it is, so that’s why. I like everything, all of it.”

Imagine where United would be now if they had landed him at the time… They probably wouldn’t have had to stomach their city rivals winning the treble, for one.

READ: Comparing Haaland and Mbappe’s records to Messi and Ronaldo’s at 21

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