“I was halfway through my medical” — Manchester United legend reveals why he abandoned Manchester City move | OneFootball

Former Manchester United and Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre has revealed the details of one of the most dramatic transfer twists of his career wherein he joined Manchester City in 2008.

The Frenchman accumulated over 360 appearances for United during a nine-year spell that saw him develop into a key part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad, eventually winning five Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, and League Cup.

More so, the 48-year-old posed a versatile repertoire and could play at both centre-back and left back, often partnering with the formidable Jaap Stam having been renowned for his reliable and adaptable defending. He was deemed a vital component of United’s defence during a dominant era. 

Silvestre’s status as one of the game’s greatest defenders at that time became clearer when his performances generated intense interest from all over Europe. Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux kept an eye on the defender, while Sunderland made enquiries.

But it was eventually Arsenal who prevailed in the chase as Silvestre revealed what made him change his mind having been set for a move across Manchester – before he decided against the transfer, ultimately joining their north London rivals.

“I almost signed for Manchester City in 2008, believe it or not,” Silvestre said in an interview with Poker Scout, as relayed by Goal. “I was halfway through my medical in Manchester and was very close to finalising the move.

“However, Arsene Wenger reached out to me through a friend to try and get me to sign for Arsenal during the medical.”

Silvestre was 31 when he opted for the Emirates Stadium at the eleventh hour – despite reaching a provisional agreement with the Blues – ending his time with the Gunners on 43 appearances four years before his retirement.

Nevertheless, City were on the brink of a takeover that was led by the Abu Dhabi United Group just 12 days after the abandoned move for Silvestre had occurred. Sheikh Mansour completed the lucrative deal to kickstart a new and unprecedented phase of success in England.

The substantial financial backing of the new owners laid the groundwork for future domestic dominance, while early signings such as Robinho, David Silva, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero signalled a definitive shift in the club’s history, most famously due to the dramatic title-winning goal scored by the latter against Queen Park Rangers in May 2012. 

That success, and more was enhanced when Pep Guardiola joined from Bayern Munich in 2016. With the Catalan, the club have reached unprecedented heights and began setting numerous records, including the centurion season where the Blues hit 100 points in the 2017-18 Premier League campaign. 

The ultimate achievement, however, came in 2023 when City secured their first UEFA Champions League trophy while simultaneously winning a magnificent treble, solidifying their status as a dominant force in European football and marking the successful culmination of the owner’s long-term vision.

Still to this day the ideology around the Etihad Stadium persists as Guardiola continues to strive for greatness. As it turns out at present, City are currently second in the Premier League table – and five points behind Arsenal, meanwhile they sit just outside of the top eight in the Champions League.