Football giant Manchester United was eyeing a deal to acquire Fiorentina's top player, a move that could potentially have placed the club in a precarious position.
In 1996, it seemed that Manchester United were on the brink of signing Argentinean striker Gabriel Batistuta, a prolific goalscorer at Fiorentina. However, the move never materialized, and Batistuta opted to stay with the Italian club.
Batistuta, who claimed in 2019 that he had turned down offers from United, Real Madrid, and AC Milan during his career, explained his decision by stating that he preferred the tranquility and environment of playing for Fiorentina. He sought stability over high-profile moves.
Manchester United were long-time admirers of Batistuta during his time at Fiorentina. Sir Alex Ferguson had been keen to sign the forward on multiple occasions. However, United viewed him as costly given his age at the time and opted instead for Ruud van Nistelrooy, a decision that ultimately proved shrewd for the Red Devils.
Batistuta spent nine years at Fiorentina between 1991 and 2000, scoring 203 goals in 331 appearances. During his final campaign, he faced United in the Champions League, scoring two goals against them. Batistuta's wage demands, however, were a stumbling block in any potential move to Old Trafford.
Former United chairman Martin Edwards reflected on their pursuit of Batistuta in 2017, stating that his wage demands would have jeopardized the wage structure at United at the time. The signing came after United missed out on Alan Shearer.
Batistuta helped Fiorentina return to Serie A as champions after their 1993 relegation. He also won both the Serie A golden boot and the Coppa Italia during his time at the club. In 2000, he declared his interest in joining Manchester United before his exit from Fiorentina, but ultimately moved to Serie A rivals Roma.
Fast forward to 2021, Fiorentina will be United's opposition in the final pre-season friendly at Old Trafford on Saturday. Batistuta, now retired, will watch from the stands as a spectator, but his impact on the game is still felt. He admitted that he would have been 'bored scoring 200 goals' if he had joined one of the world's biggest clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, or AC Milan. Instead, he found his niche at Fiorentina, scoring goals and helping the club to success.
References: 1. [Source]
- Despite the manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, expressing interest in signing Gabriel Batistuta multiple times, Manchester United decided against it due to his age and costly wage demands.
- While Batistuta turned down offers from premier-league clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and AC Milan during his career, he opted for the tranquility and stability at Fiorentina.
- In the European-leagues, Batistuta spent nine years at Fiorentina, where he scored 203 goals and won the Serie A golden boot, helping them secure promotion back to Serie A as champions after their relegation in 1993.
- During the Champions League, Batistuta faced Manchester United, scoring two goals against them during his final campaign, but his wage demands remained a barrier to transferring to Old Trafford.
- In 2021, Batistuta, now retired, will watch as a spectator when Fiorentina faces Manchester United in the final pre-season friendly at Old Trafford, reminding fans of his impact on the game and the reasons he chose to stay in sports, but outside of the world's biggest clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, or AC Milan.
