5 European Clubs That Almost Signed Benni McCarthy

Everything you need to know about the five European giants that came close to signing Benni McCarthy, but never sealed deals.

Benni McCarthy is one of Africa’s most accomplished footballers, known for being South Africa’s all-time top scorer and the only South African to win the UEFA Champions League.

Throughout his career, however, a few high-profile European clubs came within a whisker of signing the prolific striker, only for those moves to fall through at the last moment.

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In this article, Pulse Sports counts down five European clubs that almost secured his signature – exploring the background of each near-transfer, why the move failed, and what it meant for McCarthy’s career.

5. Real Madrid

Often football careers hinge on a bit of luck and timing, and in Benni McCarthy’s case it has sparked speculation that he could have once joined Real Madrid.

As a young striker at Celta Vigo around the turn of the millennium, McCarthy did not get to work under José Mourinho until later at FC Porto – a twist he believes cost him a chance to wear Real’s famous white kit.

He reflected that had Mourinho coached him earlier, he “would have probably been signed by Real Madrid” in those early years.

McCarthy’s link to Real Madrid was more a “what if” scenario than a concrete transfer saga. In an interview years later, the South African star reminisced that if Mourinho had been his coach earlier, he might have developed into the kind of player Real would signpulsesports.co.ke.

At the time, Real Madrid was assembling their Galácticos, and a Champions League–calibre striker like McCarthy could well have been on their radar had circumstances aligned.

Instead of donning the iconic white jersey at the Bernabéu, McCarthy went on to achieve continental glory with Porto and later had a successful Premier League stint.

This anecdote highlights how even a player of McCarthy’s calibre can see a dream move slip away, and yet his career still flourished in other directions.

4. Rangers

Often a transfer falls apart over fine margins, as Glasgow Rangers discovered when they tried to sign Benni McCarthy in 2000. The Scottish giants were keen on the then 22-year-old striker after his impressive early spells at Ajax and Celta Vigo.

McCarthy was one of the most sought-after forwards in Europe at the time, and Rangers saw him as a potential Champions League asset to spearhead their attack.

The move came very close to completion, but it ultimately collapsed due to a bureaucratic twist. Rangers discovered that McCarthy would be ineligible to play for them in the Champions League, having already been involved in European competition with Celta Vigo that season.

This revelation forced the transfer to be abandoned at the last minute, despite the club’s strong interest in the South African marksman.

For McCarthy, a spell in Scotland could have been an intriguing chapter – he would have joined a title-winning squad at Ibrox amid the fierce Old Firm rivalry.

Yet missing out on Rangers arguably proved a blessing in disguise.

Instead of the Scottish Premiership, Benni McCarthy continued his development elsewhere and eventually found glory with Porto.

The aborted Rangers deal showed how a small detail (like being cup-tied) can change the course of a career, though not joining Rangers did little to hinder McCarthy’s rise.

3. Celtic

Often veteran stars seek a career swansong at big clubs, and in 2011 Celtic hoped to offer Benni McCarthy a fresh start.

At 33, McCarthy was enduring a difficult spell at West Ham United – struggling for fitness and game time – and the Glasgow club, managed by Neil Lennon, was reportedly interested in his services.

Celtic saw the South African’s pedigree as a Champions League winner and record international scorer as an opportunity to add experience and firepower to their title charge.

Reports at the time indicated that Celtic were targeting McCarthy in the January transfer window to bolster their attack.

However, despite the rumours and even Benni McCarthy’s openness to a move, no deal materialised before the window shut.

Some speculated that concerns over his wage demands and physical condition prevented an agreement – he had famously struggled with weight issues at West Ham – and ultimately the transfer was shelved.

For McCarthy, missing out on Celtic meant he never got to play in the Scottish Premier League or taste an Old Firm derby from the green-and-white side.

By 2011 his peak years were behind him, and a move to Celtic would have been a last hurrah in Europe.

In the end, Benni McCarthy returned home to South Africa to finish his playing career, leaving Celtic fans to wonder what impact the proven goal-scorer might have had at Parkhead had the move gone through.

2. Everton

Often childhood dreams collide with reality in the transfer market, and Benni McCarthy’s dream move to Everton was a prime example.

Fresh off winning the 2004 Champions League with Porto, the South African striker was eager to join the English Premier League.

Everton, having just sold teenage prodigy Wayne Rooney, moved quickly to sign McCarthy as a replacement and even had a deal in place.

By deadline day, everything seemed set. “The deal was done, I had agreed everything with Everton,” McCarthy later revealed, underscoring how close he came to joining the Merseyside club.

He was even scheduled to visit the British Embassy in Pretoria to finalize his work permit before the transfer deadline. But in a dramatic turn, Porto’s president Jorge Pinto da Costa refused to sanction the sale at the last minute, despite McCarthy’s desire to move.The plug was pulled on the transfer in the eleventh hour.

This collapse was heartbreaking for McCarthy, who had longed to test himself in England. He even admitted he would have snubbed an offer from Real Madrid if it meant signing for his boyhood-favourite Toffees – such was his love for Everton.

Although that transfer fell through in 2004, Benni McCarthy did eventually arrive in the Premier League two years later with Blackburn Rovers, where he proved his quality as one of the league’s top scorers.

The near-miss with Everton remains a tantalising “what if” moment in his career, demonstrating how quickly fortunes can change in football.

1. Barcelona

Often even Europe’s biggest clubs aren’t immune to transfer frustrations, and Barcelona experienced this when they almost landed Benni McCarthy in the mid-2000s.

McCarthy was at his peak with FC Porto, fresh from European glory, and Barcelona – influenced by their legendary former player Johan Cruyff – identified him as a target. The idea was that his Ajax upbringing and ability to play both as a striker and on the wing would make him a perfect fit for Barça’s style.

In fact, Johan Cruyff personally recommended McCarthy to Barcelona’s hierarchy after seeing the success he was having in Portugal.

The Catalan club made an approach to sign him, but Porto (then managed by José Mourinho) flatly refused to enter negotiations, valuing McCarthy far too highly at the time. The proposed transfer thus never got off the ground, despite Barcelona’s interest and McCarthy being “this close” to joining them.

Looking back, McCarthy himself isn not too regretful that the Barcelona move fell through. He later remarked that had he gone to the Camp Nou, he would have had to play out of position on the wing and was “not sure if I would’ve enjoyed that.

Instead, Benni McCarthy went on to shine in the Premier League and concluded his playing days back home in South Africa.

The Barcelona saga remains a fascinating what-if: a top club came calling, but Porto’s refusal – and McCarthy’s own position preferences – kept him on a different path.