A winger who became a Chelsea legend could have been a Manchester United star - as Rio Ferdinand explained the strange reason he didn't move to Old Trafford
13:26, 24 Jan 2026
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Arjen Robben was an icon at Chelsea(Image: Reuters)
A Chelsea icon who captivated supporters at Stamford Bridge could have seen his Premier League journey take a completely different path.
Arjen Robben, who celebrated his 42nd birthday on Friday, was also pursued by Manchester United while still playing for Dutch heavyweights PSV in 2004. Yet after turning up at the Red Devils' Carrington training facility, Robben opted to join Chelsea instead.
Rio Ferdinand revealed the reason behind this decision in a remarkable story during an Instagram Live session in 2021, when questioned about who was superior between Robben and his former United colleague, Welsh winger Ryan Giggs.
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MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 30: Former Bayern Muenchen player Arjen Robben Gives an interview prior to the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg match between FC Bayern München and Real Madrid at Allianz Arena on April 30, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images)(Image: Getty Images)
He responded: "I'd have to go for Giggsy, you know. Robben was nasty though, ooh Robben, you knew he was going to come back in on his left foot but the left-back couldn't deal with it.
He was saying 'I'm going to come in on my left, you're not going to stop me' - and they didn't. What a player, Robben was great. We should have signed him at United.
"I think he came to the training ground, he walked around and didn't like the smell and walked off and went Chelsea. Couldn't believe it man. He would have been great for us.
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LONDON - DECEMBER 06: Arjen Robben of Chelsea prior the UEFA Champions League Group G match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on December 6, 2005 in London, England. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)(Image: Getty Images)
"But Giggsy was an unbelievable footballer, left wing, into centre midfield by the end of his career."
Robben has previously revealed details about his collapsed transfer to United, disclosing that he dined with then-boss Sir Alex Ferguson. "I had a very good conversation with him [Ferguson] over dinner in Manchester and we spoke about football and life," Robben told FourFourTwo magazine."
"I also went and had a good look around the training ground and everything was good, but after I went back to PSV nothing happened."
Robben became an immediate sensation at Stamford Bridge, where he claimed two Premier League titles, two League Cups and the FA Cup.
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Following a season plagued by injuries, Real Madrid swooped to secure his signature in 2007, though he spent just one campaign in La Liga before moving to Bayern Munich.
It was with the Bundesliga giants that Robben truly flourished, netting 144 goals in 309 outings for the German powerhouse.