The Sliding Doors Moment That Changed Manchester United's History
In what stands as one of the most significant missed opportunities in Premier League transfer history, legendary German midfielder Toni Kroos has revealed just how close he came to joining Manchester United back in 2014. The world-class orchestrator, who would go on to achieve extraordinary success with Real Madrid, had actually agreed terms with the Red Devils before a sudden managerial change completely derailed the deal.
The Agreement That Nearly Was
Back in 2014, Kroos had decided to leave Bayern Munich and had reached a comprehensive agreement with Manchester United. The midfielder even sat down with then-manager David Moyes to discuss tactical integration and how he would fit into the United side. Contract documents were essentially finalised, with Kroos poised to put pen to paper and become a marquee signing for the Old Trafford club.
"Before I signed with Real Madrid, I had already agreed terms with Manchester United. That would have been a move from Bayern to United," Kroos later confirmed. "David Moyes had come to see me and the contract had basically been done."
How Managerial Turmoil Scuppered the Deal
The transfer's collapse came about through dramatic circumstances that unfolded just weeks after the agreement was reached. Manchester United's decision to sack David Moyes and appoint Louis van Gaal as his replacement created immediate complications for the proposed Kroos transfer.
"Then Moyes was fired and Louis van Gaal came in, which complicated matters," Kroos explained. "Louis wanted time to build his own project. I didn't hear anything from United for a while and started having doubts."
During this period of radio silence from United, the 2014 World Cup began in Brazil, and Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti made his decisive move. Ancelotti's personal intervention proved crucial, with Kroos stating simply: "Then the World Cup started and Carlo Ancelotti called. And that was it."
Liverpool's Failed Approach and United's Alternative Targets
Adding further intrigue to this transfer saga was Kroos's simultaneous rejection of Liverpool's advances. The German international revealed that both Steven Gerrard and Luis Suárez had personally contacted him via text message in an attempt to lure him to Anfield.
"It wasn't a straight chat-up line but they offered to tell me more about the club and so on," Kroos recalled. "The funny thing was, Suárez was about to leave to Barcelona anyway."
Following the collapse of the Kroos deal, Manchester United pursued several alternative midfield targets:
- Cesc Fàbregas - The Barcelona playmaker instead chose to join Chelsea
- Thiago Alcântara - Bayern Munich refused to sanction his departure
- Ander Herrera and Daley Blind - Ultimately became United's principal midfield additions that window
The Success That Might Have Been
Kroos's subsequent career trajectory makes this near-miss particularly painful for United supporters. After helping Germany win the 2014 World Cup, the midfielder embarked on a remarkable decade at the Bernabéu, where he formed a legendary partnership with Luka Modrić.
During his time with Real Madrid, Kroos collected an extraordinary haul of silverware:
- Four La Liga titles
- The Copa del Rey
- Five Champions League trophies
- A historic three-peat between 2016 and 2018 under Zinedine Zidane
For Manchester United, Kroos represents perhaps the most significant sliding-doors moment in their modern history. He joins a lengthy catalogue of world-class players who narrowly slipped through the club's fingers, alongside figures such as Ronaldinho, Paul Gascoigne and Alan Shearer.
When considering United's turbulent path over the last decade - and the extraordinary level of success Kroos ultimately achieved in Madrid - this failed transfer stands as a stark reminder of how managerial instability can derail even the most promising recruitment plans.
