List of players Arsene Wenger almost signed

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has hit out at the UK's work permit policy by revealing that red tape stopped him from signing Ronaldinho.

The Highbury boss was keen to land the 25-year-old superstar from his Brazilian club Gremio five years ago.

However, his efforts to sign the now World and European Player of the Year fell through when UK Home Office rules on foreign players ruled the playmaker was not a regular in the Brazil squad at the time - thus making him ineligible for a work permit.

The situation resulted in Ronaldinho embarking on

Wenger was tracking the Tottenham winger back when he was a young left-back at Southampton, alongside future Arsenal star Theo Walcott.

But while Walcott made the move Arsenal, Bale, now 23, headed to north-London rivals Tottenham, where he is now proving to be one of the best players in the country.

"We didn't take him as we had Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy and didn't want another left-back," Wenger told Al Jazeera Sport.



"I must confess it was a huge mistake as he can play in midfield. He struggled at the start at Tottenham, then they moved him to midfield and he has done exceptionally well.

"The career of a player sometimes depends on playing in the right position."

the Harry Redknapp list would be something else

You forgot Dean Windass.