As kids, we all kicked a ball around the garden or the local field, dreaming of scoring screamers at the Emirates, lifting trophies at Anfield, or dribbling past defenders in the Camp Nou. The usual childhood dream stuff.
Only a lucky few ever get to live that dream. But even among those few, the dreams they claim to have had can be… surprising. Sometimes touching. Sometimes suspicious. Occasionally straight-up baffling.
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We’ve rounded up seven footballers (and one very passionate manager) who made bold, weird, and wildly inconsistent claims about the clubs they apparently idolised as kids. Buckle up for a trip through nostalgia, PR spin, and dreams that seem to change with every new contract.
Richarlison
When Richarlison signed for Everton in 2018 for £50 million after just one season at Watford, he came prepared with all the right things to say.
“I want my dreams to become a reality here at one of the biggest clubs in England,” he said, clearly eager to impress. “I want to score more goals, provide more assists for my teammates, and help in whichever way is possible. Everyone in the world knows Everton.”
That’s already a pretty bold take. But then he went one step further.
“It’s a very big club, one of the biggest in England as I said. I am really happy and honoured to be here,” he added. So far, so PR-polished. And then came the line that raised eyebrows across Brazil and beyond:
“When I was younger I’d watch Everton, I followed them a lot.”
Sure you did, Richarlison. Just like we all watched Match of the Day for the Wigan highlights.
Robbie Keane
Ah, Robbie. The undisputed king of “boyhood dream” transfers.
Keane’s career saw him move clubs more times than a dodgy agent on deadline day, and nearly every time he signed somewhere new, he claimed he had always dreamed of playing there.
In 2008, after joining Liverpool from Spurs, he declared: “As a fan, joining Liverpool is a lifelong dream of mine and one I couldn’t let pass me by.”
Nice. A classic dream come true moment.
But then in 2009, after going on loan to Celtic, he said: “The club is massive. I am a Celtic fan and did not have to ask much about it. I always wanted to play for Celtic.”
A bit of déjà vu, but sure, we’ll go with it.
Then came the move to LA Galaxy in 2011: “I have always wanted to come and play in MLS so it’s the perfect combination for me and a dream come true.”
Of course it is. And just to top it off, back in 2000 when he joined Inter Milan, he even said: “It all happened so fast that it seems like a dream.”
That’s a lot of dreams, Robbie. At this point, we wouldn’t be surprised if he once claimed it was his boyhood ambition to play in the Soccer Aid charity match too.
Aleksandar Mitrovic
“They are big names in Serbian football,” Mitrovic said about Newcastle United in 2018, which already raised a few eyebrows.
“I joined Newcastle because from a young age I supported them. I don’t know why, but they had black-and-white colours, the same colours as Partizan Belgrade.”
Honestly, points for creativity. Forget trophies or legends of the game – young Mitro fell in love with Newcastle because they matched the colours of his local club.
He spent a few years at St James’ Park before leaving for Fulham… who also happen to play in black and white. Coincidence? Or did he just have a thing for monochrome?
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Mkhitaryan really made the rounds with his childhood dreams.
When he joined Borussia Dortmund in 2013, he said it was a “dream come true” to sign for the German side. Lovely stuff.
Then came the switch to Manchester United, where he posted a picture of himself with the caption: “This move is a dream come true for me.”
Alright, we’re seeing a theme here.
And then, after being traded to Arsenal in the Alexis Sanchez swap, he said once more that he had “always dreamed of playing for Arsenal.”
At this point, his dreams were starting to look suspiciously aligned with whichever team was paying his wages.
Alexis Sanchez
Alexis Sanchez might just be the final boss of football dream contradictions.
“Every child grows up watching Barcelona and dreaming of playing for them. I was the same, Barcelona are the team I always dreamed of playing for and I supported them as a child,” he said when signing for the Catalan giants.
Then, when he moved to Arsenal: “Ever since I was young, I’ve wanted to play for Arsenal.”
Sure. Why not?
And finally, on joining Manchester United: “Since I was young, I have always said it was my dream to play for Manchester United.”
Journalists were quick to catch on. One even asked him directly about this very habit:
Reporter: “You’ve said in the past your dream was to join Barcelona, Arsenal and Manchester City…”
Alexis: “I have lots of dreams.”
Honestly, fair play. At least he admitted it.
Carlos Carvalhal
It’s not just players who throw out suspicious childhood dream claims. Managers do it too – and few did it with quite as much flair as Carlos Carvalhal.
When he joined Swansea in 2017, the Portuguese coach told a tale that belongs in the fiction section of your local bookstore.
According to Carlos, way back in 1983, as a teenager just starting out in football, he somehow knew he would one day be Swansea manager.
This was his 17th managerial job across two decades in multiple countries, yet apparently, the stars had always pointed him toward South Wales.
On the long list of things that probably never happened, teenage Carlos Carvalhal having a Swansea epiphany in 1983 ranks near the top.
Meshack Maphangule
And finally, we have Meshack Maphangule – who, unlike everyone else on this list, did the exact opposite.
When he joined Orlando Pirates in 2018, the expected thing would have been to talk up his new club. Say it was a dream move. Drop a line about growing up watching them.
Instead, Meshack went completely rogue.
“It has always been my dream to play for one of the big three clubs in the country. I grew up supporting Kaizer Chiefs and I always wanted to play for Kaizer Chiefs,” he said.
Kaizer Chiefs. The rivals of the team he had just signed for.
You have to admire the honesty. Or question the PR training. Either way, we salute you, Meshack.