I was given a locker and a parking spot after a trial at Bolton, but the next day they told me the manager had opted for another player instead. I still don't fully know why it fell through' Denilson on almost signing for Bolton

"before he was part of the World Cup 98 squad that lost in the final to France. Later that summer, Denilson would become the world's most expensive player, when Real Betis stumped up 21.5million to take him from Sao Paulo to La Liga, while his career would then take in stops in France, Saudi Arabia, the United States and Vietnam, with his part in Brazil's 2002 World Cup winning squad a career highlight."

"Denilson never played in the Premier League - although he almost had the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Ivan Campo, Youri Djorkaeff and Fernando Hierro with a late stop off at Bolton Wanderers. Later in my career, I even came close to the Premier League, Denilson tells FourFourTwo. In early 2009, I nearly joined Bolton. I still don't fully know why it fell through. Maybe internal politics, agents with more influence."

Brazilian winger Denilson enjoyed a 16-year career marked by early international success, winning Copa America, Confederations Cup, and a 2002 World Cup medal after appearing at World Cup 1998. Real Betis signed him for a then-world-record fee of £21.5 million from São Paulo, and his club career later included spells in France, Saudi Arabia, the United States and Vietnam. Denilson earned 61 Brazil caps across nine clubs but never featured in the Premier League. He trained with Bolton in early 2009, completed a week of demanding sessions and was shown facilities, yet the manager instead signed centre-forward Ariza Makukula.

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