Chelsea star came to Man Utd, had meal with Fergie 'but didn't like smell' says Ferdinand

Arjen Robben’s legendary career might have taken a completely different trajectory had he joined Manchester United in 2004.

The iconic winger, who turned 41 on Thursday, rose to prominence after a £12.1 million move to Chelsea from PSV Eindhoven.

Robben helped the Dutch club secure the Eredivisie title and caught the attention of several European giants, including Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United.

In fact, Robben came very close to becoming a Red Devil, even visiting United’s Carrington training ground during his time at PSV.

However, the transfer never materialized, and Robben opted for West London instead, joining Chelsea.

Reflecting on the missed opportunity, former United defender Rio Ferdinand shared an amusing anecdote during an Instagram Live session in 2021.

When asked to compare Robben to his former teammate Ryan Giggs, Ferdinand recalled: "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, walked around, didn’t like the smell, and went to Chelsea instead. Couldn't believe it, man.

"He would have been great for us. But Giggsy was an unbelievable footballer—left wing, into centre midfield by the end of his career."

Robben himself reflected on the failed move during an interview with FourFourTwo magazine, revealing that he had even shared a meal with Ferguson.

"I had a very good conversation with him [Ferguson] over dinner in Manchester, and we spoke about football and life," Robben said.

Despite the missed opportunity at United, Robben thrived at Chelsea. He quickly became a fan favorite, winning two Premier League titles, two League Cups, and an FA Cup during his stint at Stamford Bridge.

In 2007, after an injury-hit season, Robben moved to Real Madrid, where he spent just one year before joining Bayern Munich.

It was at Bayern that Robben cemented his legacy, scoring 144 goals in 309 appearances and becoming one of the Bundesliga’s all-time greats.

Robben’s career, though marked by what-ifs, remains one of the most illustrious in football history, leaving fans wondering how different it might have been had he donned the famous red of Manchester United.