I won the World Cup and played with Cristiano Ronaldo but divisive Man United boss denied me dream transfer

Sami Khedira dreamed of playing in the Premier League but was denied the chance by Louis van Gaal. The 2014 World Cup winner was one of the planet’s top midfielders who won just about everything that football had to offer during his time with Stuttgart, Real Madrid, Juventus and the German national team. Khedira played for five years at Real Madrid alongside the best players in the worldGetty But one opportunity that evaded him was the chance to play in England, something the now-37-year-old admits was one of his biggest dreams. Speaking to the Drive show on talkSPORT at a FIFA Club World Cup event in the US where the expanded tournament takes place, Khedira recalled: “I had quite a few talks with Arsenal and Arsene Wenger as well. “I spoke to him last year about that, but also Chelsea and a few other teams. “For certain reasons there was never an agreement but maybe it was the wrong manager, the wrong timing or permission from my club. “I really missed not playing in the Premier League because it was one of my biggest dreams to play in the Premier League.” Asked if he ever had talks with Manchester United, Khedira explained: “I did. I was told that the club would like to sign me but there was one manager who didn’t want me.” Quizzed on which manager it was, Khedira replied: “A Dutch guy,” to which Goldstein replied: “Oh, Louis van Gaal?” Khedira then smiled and said: “You said it!” Van Gaal spent two years as Man United boss between the summer of 2014 and the summer of 2016, replacing David Moyes as permanent boss. In that time he won one trophy, the FA Cup in May 2016. Khedira is also a World Cup winner, starring for Germany in 2014Getty Images - Getty Khedira was a guest on talkSPORT DrivetalkSPORT While Khedira didn’t get the chance to move to Man United, he didn’t do too badly for himself. With Stuttgart, the midfielder won the Bundesliga title before joining Real Madrid in 2010 in a summer that also saw Mesut Ozil and Angel Di Maria join the club. During his five years with the Spanish giants he won the LaLiga title, two Copa del Reys and the Champions League in 2014 alongside stars including, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema. It was during his time in Madrid that he also played a key role in helping Germany to World Cup glory in 2014. Leaving Madrid for Turin in 2015, Khedira wasn’t done yet as he enjoyed a trophy-laden time with Italian giants Juventus. As well as winning five Serie A titles, he won two Coppa Italias, the Italian Super Cup and helped Juve to the Champions League final in 2017 where he was beaten by his old club Real Madrid. Sami Khedira trophy haul Sami Khedira trophy haul VfB Stuttgart Bundesliga: 2006–07 Real Madrid La Liga: 2011–12 Copa del Rey: 2010–11, 2013–14 Supercopa de España: 2012 UEFA Champions League: 2013–14 UEFA Super Cup: 2014 FIFA Club World Cup: 2014 Juventus Serie A: 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20 Coppa Italia: 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18 Supercoppa Italiana: 2018 UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2016–17 Germany FIFA World Cup: 2014 Khedira was speaking to talkSPORT ahead of the Club World Cup in the USA, which kicks off on Sunday June 15

Feb 7, 2025 - 09:53

I won the World Cup and played with Cristiano Ronaldo but divisive Man United boss denied me dream transfer

Sami Khedira dreamed of playing in the Premier League but was denied the chance by Louis van Gaal.

The 2014 World Cup winner was one of the planet’s top midfielders who won just about everything that football had to offer during his time with Stuttgart, Real Madrid, Juventus and the German national team.

Khedira played for five years at Real Madrid alongside the best players in the world

But one opportunity that evaded him was the chance to play in England, something the now-37-year-old admits was one of his biggest dreams.

Speaking to the Drive show on talkSPORT at a FIFA Club World Cup event in the US where the expanded tournament takes place, Khedira recalled: “I had quite a few talks with Arsenal and Arsene Wenger as well.

“I spoke to him last year about that, but also Chelsea and a few other teams.

“For certain reasons there was never an agreement but maybe it was the wrong manager, the wrong timing or permission from my club.

“I really missed not playing in the Premier League because it was one of my biggest dreams to play in the Premier League.”

Asked if he ever had talks with Manchester United, Khedira explained: “I did. I was told that the club would like to sign me but there was one manager who didn’t want me.”

Quizzed on which manager it was, Khedira replied: “A Dutch guy,” to which Goldstein replied: “Oh, Louis van Gaal?”

Khedira then smiled and said: “You said it!”

Van Gaal spent two years as Man United boss between the summer of 2014 and the summer of 2016, replacing David Moyes as permanent boss.

In that time he won one trophy, the FA Cup in May 2016.

Khedira is also a World Cup winner, starring for Germany in 2014

While Khedira didn’t get the chance to move to Man United, he didn’t do too badly for himself.

With Stuttgart, the midfielder won the Bundesliga title before joining Real Madrid in 2010 in a summer that also saw Mesut Ozil and Angel Di Maria join the club.

During his five years with the Spanish giants he won the LaLiga title, two Copa del Reys and the Champions League in 2014 alongside stars including, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema.

It was during his time in Madrid that he also played a key role in helping Germany to World Cup glory in 2014.

Leaving Madrid for Turin in 2015, Khedira wasn’t done yet as he enjoyed a trophy-laden time with Italian giants Juventus.

As well as winning five Serie A titles, he won two Coppa Italias, the Italian Super Cup and helped Juve to the Champions League final in 2017 where he was beaten by his old club Real Madrid.