Zambian Players Who Almost Signed For The Biggest Clubs In Europe
Zambia, a country known for its football prowess, has produced some exceptional talents over the years. While many have gone on to make a name for themselves in top European clubs, some Zambian players came close to joining the biggest clubs in Europe, only for the deals to fall through at the last moment. In this article, we take a closer look at some of these players and their near-miss transfers to some of the biggest clubs in European football.
Isaac ChansaDuring an off-season tournament in South Africa, Orlando Pirates faced Manchester United. At the time, Zambian midfielder Isaac Chansa was on the books of Orlando Pirates. Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager of Manchester United, was impressed with Chansa’s performance and expressed interest in signing him, but the deal fell through.
Clifford MulengaClifford Mulenga’s impressive display at 2007 Under 20 World Cup earned him the title of best African young player of the year. He received offers from Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Arsenal, but none of the interested clubs were able to secure the Zambian winger’s signature.
Fwaya TemboFwaya Tembo was also impressive at 2007 Under 20 World Cup, catching the attention of Real Madrid, who considered signing him and his compatriot Clifford Mulenga. However, Tembo and his agent ultimately chose to join the Swiss side, FC Basel.
Emmanuel MayukaAfter his outstanding performance at the Africa Cup of Nations, where he emerged as the tournament’s top scorer, Emmanuel Mayuka was on the verge of signing for Arsenal. The Zambian striker was also the top scorer for Young Boys in Switzerland in the season leading up to the tournament. However, rumors of a deal with Arsenal were only fleeting, and he ended up signing for Southampton FC.
Rainford KalabaTP Mazembe, one of the most successful African football clubs, boasted Rainford Kalaba as their star midfielder. Arsenal expressed a strong interest in signing Kalaba, but the Zambian chose to stay at TP Mazembe, where he was promised better pay and became a favorite of the club’s owner.
Patson DakaPatson Daka, a Zambian striker, was a target of both Manchester United and Liverpool. However, his management team decided that he should join Leicester City to continue his development.