How Oasis nearly convinced legendary Italian player to join Manchester City
A legend from the Italian league has revealed that he came incredibly close to signing for Manchester City due to his love of local icons Oasis.
On Tuesday, iconic rock band Oasis recently announced a reunion tour for 2025, 16 years after splitting up due to the bad blood between brother Liam and Noel Gallagher.
But, while they certainly had their differences, both of the Gallaghers are agreed on who thing, their love for local club Manchester City.
And it is this link between Oasis and Man City that almost convinced a legend of the Serie A to leave his boyhood club to join the Manchester club.
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Daniele De Rossi spent an incredible 18 seasons with Roma, making his debut for the club in October 2001 and his final appearance in May 2019, finishing his time with the club as second-most capped player of all time, after Francesco Totti.
But in speaking to Roma's website in 2016, he revealed that why he considered a move to the Etihad due to his love to for Oasis.
He said: "There was a lot of talk about me moving to Manchester City a few years ago, but I’ve never wanted to leave Rome.
"What excited me the most about that prospect, however, was the fact I could have met the Gallagher brothers.
"I grew up listening to them and I know all their songs off by heart," added the 2006 World Cup winner.
"I liked those guys, they were real characters. They weren’t always conventional or very easily approachable, but I really liked the stereotype they represented – rock stars off their head."
De Rossi was reportedly offered a £130,000-a-week contract with City, who would pay Roma £31million for the Italian midfielder.
Had he joined, it is highly likely that a meeting with each of the Gallagher brothers could have been arranged for the new singing, due to their close links with the club.
Noel, in particular, is often seen at the Etihad either as a fan or working for a broadcaster covering the game.
And recently, he designed the font for Manchester City's shirts for the 2024/25 season, albeit to a mixed reception from fans.
Ben McCrum