Ransford Osei, a former forward for Kessben and Asante Kotoko, has shared the reasons behind his missed opportunities to join Spanish giants Real Madrid and English champions Manchester City.
Osei gained prominence while representing Ghana at the U-17 level in 2007. His impressive performances were instrumental in the Black Starlets’ success, securing a third-place finish in the 2007 U-17 African Youth Championship. He also claimed the silver boot with six goals during the tournament.
He continued his impressive form in the 2009 U-20 World Cup, where he once again won the silver boot with seven goals, helping Ghana secure their first-ever title in the competition.
Reflecting on his experiences, Osei explained how the owner of Kessben FC, Kwabena Kesse, rejected the offer from Real Madrid because he had received a more lucrative offer from another agent.
“After the World Cup, I had interest from all the top clubs. I remember receiving an offer from Real Madrid. Both myself and Daniel Opare were wanted, but Kessben rejected the offer, stating that they had received a one-million-dollar offer from another club. Opare eventually made the move,” Osei revealed during an interview with Kings Jersey TV.
Regarding his failed move to Manchester City, the Ghanaian youth star mentioned, “I had the opportunity to join Manchester City, where I spent three months. They were working on arranging my work permit. However, there was a requirement that players must have represented the Black Stars in at least 75 percent of matches, making it difficult for me to obtain the permit. Consequently, I had to leave for Israel.”
At the age of 32, Osei decided to retire from professional football in March 2021, having faced numerous setbacks due to injuries throughout his career. He had played for clubs in Spain, Israel, South Africa, the Netherlands, Finland, and Lithuania.
