Manchester United turned down signing of Eden Hazard after agent's request for secret multimillion-pound payment

The Red Devils had a chance to sign the Belgian forward before he joined Chelsea.

Eden Hazard was not signed by Manchester United after club officials turned down his agent’s request for a covert multimillion-pound payment.

Manchester United have a reputation for aggressively pursuing elite players, and the summer of 2012 was no different. The Belgian sensation who was drawing attention at Lille, Eden Hazard, was a target for the team.

The teenage playmaker, who had emerged as one of Europe’s most sought-after players, was already being eyed by Sir Alex Ferguson at the time.

Lille and United had reached an agreement on personal terms and a transfer fee, but the deal fell through at the last second.

Why? A request for a secret multimillion-pound payment from Hazard’s former agent, John Bico, according to Martyn Ziegler of Times Sport.

Bico’s proposed terms included a substantial £1 million payment made through United’s club finances, along with additional millions from the club’s owners.

Since it would have been against Premier League and UEFA financial fair play standards, United’s executives declined to comply. United eventually lost out on one of their most important targets as a result of the fallout from this demand.

United, who had planned to increase their attacking options with the young sensation, would suffer serious repercussions if they were unable to get Hazard.

Rather, Eden Hazard moved to Chelsea for £32 million, just nine days after they had won the Champions League. United, who had been leading the competition to sign him, suffered a serious blow.

After personally scouting Hazard, Sir Alex Ferguson was forced to settle for Shinji Kagawa as a backup, a decision that didn’t have the same effect.

Bico, Hazard’s agent, would subsequently become embroiled in a financial controversy and be charged with financial offenses like as forgery and money laundering.

Chelsea were found to have made payments that were irregular during the Abramovich era, therefore this probe is part of a larger look into the illegal practices involving players like Hazard.

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