Sheffield United once missed out on the chance to sign football superstar Diego Maradona.
The story has become infamous by now, with the Blades pulling the plug on a deal for the 17-year-old after the transfer become politicised.
Now, former boss Neil Warnock has revealed another star that got away from United.
Didier Drogba is Premier League royalty thanks to his two spells with Chelsea, during which he won four titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League.
But Warnock has spoken about he could have signed Drogba for the Blades, long before his love affair with Chelsea began.
Remarkably the Ivorian's price tag of £100,000 proved too much of a gamble for United - who were plying their trade in the second division at the time.
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Appearing on national radio station talkSPORT, veteran boss Warnock was asked whether he had been haunted by missing out on a player during his long career in the dugout.
“I think every manager has, really," he said. “Just thinking about it now, usually it’s a striker.
"The main one early in my career, I had a French lad, Laurent D'Jaffo, he said to me 'gaffer I've seen a player for you in second division in France, very good, £100,000'.
"I said '£100,000? That is a lot for a second division French player. What's his name?' He said 'Drogba'. I said we cant pay £100,000 for a second division French player.
"And you all know what happened to him in the end, Drogba! That was my biggest (missed transfer opportunity).
"I don't think I could have had a bigger loss than that one."
Of course, Drogba would join Chelsea in the summer of 2004 for a fee of £24million after impressing in France.
He would become an icon at Stamford Bridge, scoring more than 100 Premier League goals. In 2012, Drogba was voted the greatest ever Chelsea player in a poll by the club's official magazine.
He wrote at the time: "Thanks to all the fans who voted for me, I feel really honoured and proud as so many big players have been at the club before me and also at the same time as me.
"To be voted alongside these big names is an absolute privilege for me, it really is. When I joined the club, I came to play my part. I am really happy to have been a part of Chelsea history and to get this award is amazing."
As for Warnock, that failure to nab one of the greatest strikers to grace English football didn't stop him from managing in the Premier League.
He has bossed in the top flight not only with his beloved Sheffield United but also had spells in charge of QPR, Crystal Palace and Cardiff City, as well as many other jobs in his 40-year career.
His last gig was at Middlesbrough, where he was relieved of his duties last November.
He has recently spoken about a possible return, saying: “I enjoy the rapport with the players on the training ground and what have you – I wouldn’t write off taking another club until the end of the season this year.”
