Scottish football’s greatest near‑transfers

Ronaldinho’s almost‑transfer to St Mirren is arguably one of the most unlikely moments in Scottish football history. It began a day before transfer deadline day 2001, during a short window between Ronaldinho leaving Gremio and moving to Paris Saint‑Germain.

Although Ronaldinho had already agreed a contract with PSG, he needed competitive football after finishing the season with Gremio. Staying active until joining PSG in the summer was essential. St Mirren, meanwhile, were struggling at the bottom of the Scottish Premier League and urgently needed an attacker who could help them avoid relegation. Both situations aligned on the eve of the transfer deadline, when St Mirren manager Tom Hendrie received a phone call from Ronaldinho’s agent, a St Mirren supporter based in Brazil, asking whether the club would be interested in taking the player on a short‑term loan.

St Mirren responded quickly. They contacted the Home Office, who confirmed the transfer could be approved. They then negotiated terms with PSG, arranged accommodation in Paisley and set a wage in line with the club’s existing structure. The plan was to bring Ronaldinho in for the final three months of the season, giving him early experience of European football while providing St Mirren with the attacking threat they needed.

As the deadline approached, the final paperwork required Gremio to release Ronaldinho and the Brazilian Football Association to register him for Scottish football. Everything was prepared except the final signature. Hendrie and the club waited for confirmation from Brazil as the clock ran down.

In the end, St Mirren missed out on what many regard as one of Scottish football’s greatest near‑transfers. The Brazilian Football Association had closed for the day so staff could watch Brazil’s World Cup qualifier, leaving no one available to process the documents. Without their approval, the SFA could not register Ronaldinho before the 31 March deadline.

Ronaldinho never made it to Paisley, and one of the most remarkable near‑misses in Scottish football history ended in disappointment.