Former Burnley Chairman Brendan Flood has revealed that the club missed out on signing Michael Essien in 1999 due to wage issues.
Essien, who gained prominence at the U-17 FIFA World Cup in New Zealand in 1999, was pursued by several clubs despite Ghana’s elimination in the semi-finals after losing to Brazil on penalties.
Burnley, then playing in the Third Tier of English football, came close to signing Essien after trials, but failed to secure his services due to wage demands.
Reflecting on the missed opportunity, Flood shared in a 2009 interview with The People: “I discovered Michael Essien had been on trial here for a few days. One of the best players in the World Cup – and we hadn’t signed him.
“The club policy meant we wouldn’t pay an apprentice more than 60 quid a week. It smacked me in the face that the problem was a lack of communication within the club that stopped our youth guys from making an exception to the rule,” he added.
Despite the failed deal, Michael Essien went on to play for Bastia, Lyon, and eventually made a big-money move to Chelsea in 2005.
He later played for Real Madrid, AC Milan, and other top European clubs.
