There are some decisions in football that sting for a while. Then there are others that haunt a club foreverFor Manchester City, walking away from a £75 million deal for Virgil van Dijk in January 2018 may go down as one of the greatest “what could have been” moments in their modern history. And now, in a passionate and emotional blast, Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has slammed the Premier League giants for turning their backs on a deal that could have changed everything.And if you think that’s all in the past, think again.
Because Scholes has just issued a warning that echoes louder than ever in Manchester: Don’t make the same mistake again.This is the full story of how Manchester City missed out on one of the greatest defenders of his generation, handed Liverpool a golden opportunity, and may now be preparing to do it all over again with Florian Wirtz. Scholes isn’t having it. And the fans are starting to agree.
It’s been over seven years since Manchester City had the chance to sign Virgil van Dijk from Southampton. The Dutch centre-back was one of the most wanted players in the world at the time, with both Liverpool and City jostling for position in what looked set to be a transfer battle for the ages.
But as negotiations wore on, City hesitated. Liverpool didn’t. The Reds coughed up the full £75 million asking price in one bold swoop—and the rest is history.Scholes, speaking during a heated episode of The Overlap Fan Debate*, didn’t hold back when reminded of the blunder.
“That was a mistake,” Scholes said bluntly, in response to a City fan’s claim that the club had a habit of backing out of massive deals if they felt the price wasn’t right. The fan was right—City had walked away from several blockbuster transfers before. But it’s the Van Dijk one that continues to haunt the blue half of Manchester.
When Virgil van Dijk joined Liverpool in January 2018, the Merseyside club were a team on the rise, but lacking structure at the back. Their attack was explosive. Their midfield had energy. But the defence was shaky, prone to collapses and last-minute heartbreaks. Enter Van Dijk.
Related Posts:
From the moment he stepped onto the pitch in a red shirt, everything changed. Confidence. Presence. Organisation. Leadership. He wasn’t just a centre-back. He was the general. The boss. The wall that Liverpool had been begging for since the days of Jamie Carragher.
By 2019, Van Dijk had helped Liverpool to a Champions League final, then won it the following season. In 2020, he led them to their first Premier League title in 30 years. He was voted PFA Player of the Year. He came second in the Ballon d’Or behind Lionel Messi. He became the best defender on the planet. And it could have been City’s
A Manchester City defence with Vincent Kompany and Virgil van Dijk. Two leaders. Two warriors. One terrifying combination. Even Arsenal legend Sol Campbell admitted that pairing the two together would have make City “absolutely unbeatable.” But it never happened. Why? Because of one word: money
During Amazon Prime’s All or Nothing documentary on Manchester City, chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak was seen reacting in disbelief to the idea of paying £75 million for a centre-back. “Come on, you cannot be serious,” he said in a private meeting, showing just how unwilling City were to break their valuation rules—even for a player as talented as Van Dijk.
Scholes has now used that quote to highlight what he believes is City’s dangerous habit of overthinking deals while rivals take action. And he’s not alone in that belief Fast forward to 2025. Another generational talent is on the market. His name: Florian Wirtz.
The German playmaker has been lighting up the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen, and reports claim that Pep Guardiola personally requested him as a summer priority. Talks were held. Negotiations began. But again—Manchester City appear to be stepping back.And that’s what triggered Paul Scholes’ passionate outburst. When Jamie Carragher brought up the Wirtz situation during *The Overlap*, Scholes jumped in.
“They’ve done this before,” he said. “And it cost them big. You don’t get too many chances to sign special players. If you walk away from one too many, one day, it’ll come back to bite you again.” It’s déjà vu. And Scholes’ frustration is starting to echo in the fanbas
For years, Manchester City have prided themselves on smart, strategic spending. They rarely overpay. They walk away from negotiations if the numbers don’t suit them. They refuse to be bullied in the market. And to be fair—it’s worked. They’ve won Premier League titles, domestic cups, and a historic treble under Guardiola. They’ve signed superstars like Haaland, De Bruyne, Rodri, and Ruben Dias. Social media has been buzzing with debates since Scholes’ comments went viral.
One City fan wrote: “It’s true, man. We missed out on Van Dijk, now we’re backing out of Wirtz too? We can’t keep doing this.” Another added: “Pep asked for Wirtz. Just give him Wirtz. Of course, Paul Scholes is no stranger to poking at Manchester City. As a Manchester United icon, he’s had his fair share of digs at the blue side of town. But this time, even City fans admit—he might be right. I Because the reality is, Van Dijk’s decision changed everything. Liverpool, who were neck-and-neck with City, suddenly had the final piece of their puzzle. They didn’t just challenge for titles. They won them. And Van Dijk was their anchor.
City, meanwhile, patched things up with Aymeric Laporte and later Ruben Dias. But they’ve never quite had a defender with the same aura, the same presence, the same dominance as Van Dijk.And now, as Wirtz enters the market as one of Europe’s most creative midfielders, City stand at a similar crossroads. Insiders claim that Pep Guardiola has privately urged the club to move fast in the market this summer. With doubts surrounding the futures of Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, and Ederson, Guardiola knows this squad is entering a new phase.
Wirtz, according to several reports, was identified as a player who could fill the creative gap in midfield and play both as a No. 10 and as a wide forward. He is young, fearless, and already delivering consistent brilliance for Leverkusen.
City’s board are reportedly cautious about exceeding their summer transfer budget, especially amid ongoing scrutiny related to their FFP investigations. Arsenal are strengthening. Liverpool are rebuilding. Manchester United are waking up. And clubs like Chelsea, Newcastle, and Tottenham are spending big. The margin for error is smaller than ever. And Paul Scholes is essentially asking: Can City afford another mistake?
A few years ago, the answer may have been yes. But now? Every signing matters. Every opportunity matters. Missing out on a player like Van Dijk once changed the balance of power.
BBC pundit Stephen Warnock recently called Van Dijk “phenomenal”—a word now being echoed across fan circles.Scholes isn’t just saying Van Dijk was good. He’s saying *he was the difference*. And that walking away from that deal was a “big mistake” that gave Liverpool everything they needed
One refusal to pay created a legacy—just not the one City wanted. Manchester City still have time to make moves this summer. The Florian Wirtz deal isn’t dead—yet. But the hesitation is clear. And so is the warning. Paul Scholes’ words may sting, especially coming from a United legend. But for Manchester City, they might just be the brutal truth they need to hear.
