Wigan Athletic will always regret £9m, Atletico Madrid transfer collapse - He built Man Utd legacy instead | OneFootball

Wigan Athletic made a transfer decision in 2009 that had a huge impact for multiple clubs

Wigan Athletic have spent well over a decade outside of the top-flight following their relegation in 2013 and haven’t threatened to reclaim that status in recent times.

The Latics have spent much of that time bouncing between the Championship and League One, but in the not-too-distant past, they were one of 20 teams regularly competing in England’s premier division.

Following their promotion to the top-flight in 2005, Wigan would spend eight seasons competing in that league, enjoying unbelievable moments that supporters will recall for generations.

Athletic didn’t enjoy the financial might of some other sides in the Premier League and had to be strategic as to how they invested their resources.

This led to them enjoying talents such as Charles N'Zogbia, Hugo Rodallega and Victor Moses, utilising their individual qualities to escape relegation time and again.

However, there is one deal they missed out on that could’ve had huge consequences for their future and implications on the success of one of English football’s greatest teams.

Wigan Athletic came extremely close to striking David De Gea deal with Atletico Madrid

In 2009, Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez was on the lookout for a new shot-stopper after finishing 11th in the Premier League the previous term.

With the right choice, they could build a backline of steel and aim to push further up the table.

David De Gea had recently broken into the Atletico Madrid squad but was resigned to the role of third-choice ‘keeper.

By his own admission, Wigan enquired about his services, but were put off pursuing a deal due to his £9 million valuation.

The Spaniard eventually broke into the Atletico side and made an £18.9 million move to Manchester United in 2011.

From there, he became one of the Red Devils’ greatest ever goalkeepers and enjoyed a period in the 2010s when he and Manuel Neuer were comfortably the two best shot-stoppers in the world.

If Wigan had acquired his services, they may have prevented United from securing a perfect Edwin van der Sar replacement, which could have cost them the league title in 2013.

It would have also given the Latics a much better chance of retaining their Premier League status in the years that followed, either through De Gea’s performances or from the money they would make off his eventual sale.

Wigan Athletic will still regret their David De Gea, Atletico Madrid transfer decision

£9 million was a lot of money in 2009 for a Premier League team with a modest budget such as Wigan Athletic, so it’s understandable as to why they didn’t decide to splash that money on Atletico’s third choice ‘keeper.

However, with the advantage of hindsight, Latics’ supporters would be screaming at their club to get a deal for the Spaniard over the line.

Since their relegation to the Championship in 2013, the Premier League has transformed into world football’s most popular division and therefore, the revenue generated by it has multiplied by a significant amount.

If Wigan had signed De Gea, it may have allowed them the opportunity to remain in the top-flight until the money involved became extreme.

Although it wouldn’t have guaranteed their survival, it may have presented the Latics with a better chance of fighting for promotion when back in the second-tier.

That scenario will remain fictional, but everyone involved with Wigan Athletic