Manchester United missed out on signing Eden Hazard over SHOCKING secret demand.
How a £6M Agent Demand Sabotaged Eden Hazard’s Manchester United Deal in 2012
Over a decade after one of football’s most intriguing missed transfers, fresh revelations have come to light about why Eden Hazard never joined Manchester United. According to The Times, the Belgian star was on the verge of becoming a Red Devil in 2012 — until a late twist involving his agent, John Bico, derailed the deal.
Manchester United had reportedly finalized terms with both Hazard and his then-club, Lille. Sir Alex Ferguson and his team believed the transfer was a done deal. However, the situation took a sharp turn when Bico allegedly demanded an extra £6 million payment — a covert fee that reportedly raised red flags at Old Trafford.
This substantial side payment, intended to be funneled through offshore channels reportedly linked to former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and possibly routed via Dubai, has now attracted the attention of Premier League investigators. The ongoing probe aims to determine whether this demand influenced Hazard’s decision to join Chelsea instead.
Hazard eventually signed with Chelsea in a £32 million deal and went on to enjoy a trophy-laden career at Stamford Bridge, collecting two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, and numerous individual honors. For Manchester United, losing out on him became one of the biggest “what if” scenarios in the club’s modern history.
John Bico has not issued a statement regarding the new claims, but the league’s investigation hints at potential financial misconduct behind the scenes, suggesting Hazard’s switch to Chelsea wasn’t solely based on sporting ambition.
Abramovich, who was sanctioned by the UK in 2022 and forced to sell Chelsea, has faced past allegations of murky financial dealings. If proven true, this latest twist could further taint his legacy and possibly affect Chelsea’s image as well.
The report paints Manchester United not as a club outmaneuvered, but one that refused to bend its ethics for the sake of securing a star player. Their unwillingness to engage in what they saw as an under-the-table deal might have cost them Hazard — but preserved their integrity.
Premier League authorities are now delving into historical financial records and offshore dealings to uncover the full extent of what happened. If the alleged bribe is confirmed, it could become one of the most serious breaches linked to Abramovich’s time in English football.
Hazard’s absence from United had a clear impact on the pitch. At the time, the club was actively looking for a dynamic attacker to rejuvenate their squad. Instead, Hazard thrived in Chelsea colors and often proved to be a thorn in United’s side for years.
For Chelsea fans, the news may evoke mixed feelings. While Hazard is celebrated as one of the club’s greatest, the method of his arrival may cast a shadow over those achievements.
As for United supporters, the story adds fuel to a long-standing question — what could have been if Hazard had worn red? Could his arrival have changed the club’s trajectory after Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement? Those answers remain elusive.
While agent influence in football is nothing new, the involvement of offshore accounts and previously sanctioned figures pushes this story into more troubling territory. The Premier League’s tightening regulations around financial conduct may now face one of their toughest tests yet.
