The football history of every club is littered with countless stories of ones that got away, be it managers or players for a transfer but at Manchester United, that list is particularly long.
That is because the Glazers have been far from decisive in acting upon transfer targets, the red tap of their approval over every tiny thing slowing the club down.
But what about a player who was at the club not once but twice, while the club had the chance to sign him thrice? That’s the situation Lucas Bergvall and United found themselves in.
After the Swedish teenager’s winner over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup dented their season, Man Utd fans are all making the same point as some haunting pictures have appeared of his time at the club.
Man Utd fans on Lucas Bergvall’s “one that got away” scenario
Manchester United went on a somewhat of a recruitment spree in preparation for Brexit all the way back in 2020, a drive which landed them the likes of Hannibal Mejbri, Willy Kambwala, Alvaro Fernandez, Marc Jurado, among others.
In that crop which would go on to make a name for themselves, albeit away from the club, was a 14-year-old precocious Swedish midfielder named Lucas Bergvall.
Bergvall, who is a boyhood supporter of Man Utd, had a trial at Carrington when he was 14 where he impressed but wasn’t offered a contract.
He had another trial at United two years later when he impressed again but this time, Brexit rules didn’t allow United to sign U18 players from outside the UK.
United kept tabs on Bergvall since then but missed out on the opportunity to sign him when he turned 18 as Spurs made a proactive move of sealing his transfer and loaning him back.
As he has continued his rise in London, United fans had a single point to make after his winner vs Liverpool. His pictures in a Man Utd shirt took on a haunting demeanour for many.
“Wasn’t only Brexit rules. We could’ve signed him and made him join us when he was 18. We decided not to,” said one as another wrote, “We lost a gem”.
A third said Bergvall wouldn’t have developed at United anyway: “Just because bro played trials for us doesn’t mean he was certainly gonna be a success.”
Another brought out the claims again that he’s a boyhood United fan: “he has confirmed in Swedish interviews that his favorite team is Manchester United haha.”
A fifth equated it to the current situation with Rashford: “If he had signed for the academy, right now he would be asking 250k a week.”
Another joked at the expense of Spurs, alluding to the United allegiance of Bergvall: “Did wonder how Spurs were winning…now I know.”
Finally, a fan went a bit too far, especially since Spurs were the team that eliminated United in the previous round of the Carabao Cup: “We claiming this as a mufc win.”
Man Utd have plenty to be positive about
It is human nature to rue the things you don’t have instead of appreciating what you do and that seems to be the case with Bergvall at Spurs too.
United had the chance to sign the Swedish star multiple times but that doesn’t mean he would have been the same player at Old Trafford or United are worse off for not signing him.
In fact, as long as hypotheticals are talked about, it is possible that Bergvall could have stopped Kobbie Mainoo’s rise, a player destined for superstardom.
United have plenty of stuff to be positive about instead of ruing an opportunity that is in the past and nothing can be done about it.
United have plenty of problems, but a lack of exciting talents in the academy isn’t one of them. Could Bergvall have been added to that list? Sure, but the current one isn’t lacking quality in the slightest.
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