3. Manuel Neuer
In 2011, Manchester United was in the market for a new goalkeeper, with Sir Alex Ferguson identifying Schalke’s Manuel Neuer as the ideal candidate.
Ferguson later admitted in an interview that he was close to signing Neuer but was convinced by his goalkeeping coach, Eric Steele, to pursue David de Gea instead.
Steele had been tracking De Gea for years and insisted that the young Spaniard had the potential to become better than Neuer in a few years’ time.
While De Gea had a successful career at Old Trafford, winning multiple Player of the Year awards and helping United win several trophies, Neuer arguably reached even greater heights.
The German became a legend at Bayern Munich and redefined the role of a modern goalkeeper with his sweeping abilities, winning numerous league titles and two Champions League trophies.
In hindsight, both goalkeepers had stellar careers, but Neuer’s dominance over the last decade has left some United fans wondering what could have been.
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