Astonishing Blackburn Rovers attempt involving Ronaldinho and David Beckham still shocks to this day: View | OneFootball

Blackburn Rovers tried to sign superstars David Beckham and Ronaldinho back in 2011

It's fair to say that Venky's haven't always been the most popular at Ewood Park since purchasing Blackburn Rovers in late 2010, but they certainly had lofty ambitions when they took the reins.

Rovers were a stable Premier League club at that point, having spent just two seasons outside the top-flight since the league was formed in 1992, but things haven't quite gone to plan in Lancashire since Venky's took charge.

However, they did aim big when they initially took over, and under Steve Kean in January 2011, they tried to sign two of the biggest superstars to ever play the game, but were unsurprisingly unsuccessful.

In the years that have followed, Blackburn were relegated from the Premier League, even spending a season in League One, and while they're a relatively stable Championship club now, they're a long way from being linked with superstars like they were just 13 years ago.

Blackburn Rovers' attempts to sign David Beckham and Ronaldinho still shock

After taking charge of the club in December 2010, Venky's parted ways with Sam Allardyce and appointed his assistant Steve Kean, who had no senior management experience at any level of football.

Despite this, Blackburn were looking to make a statement signing in the January 2011 window, and made a shock move for Ronaldinho initially, tabling a £20million move for the Brazilian who was set to leave AC Milan after two-and-half years at the club.

Venky's were even confident of completing a deal for the two-time FIFA World Player of the Year award and one-time Ballon d'Or winner, with the chair of the company telling BBC Radio Lancashire: "He is keen to play in the EPL [English Premier League] and I think that goes in our favour."

Understandably, Rovers boss Kean was more than happy to bring the Brazilian to the club, telling the BBC: "If any Premier League manager was asked if they wanted to sign someone who has been World Player of the Year twice they would be interested. Everyone should look at it as a positive. It has been a long time since we have been able to do that."

However, despite Venky's confidence, a move never materialised and Ronaldinho opted for a move back to his homeland of Brazil with Flamengo putting an end to Rovers' interest, but he wasn't their only superstar target that month.

Blackburn also wanted to bring David Beckham to the club during the MLS off-season on a short-term loan deal, according to the Daily Mail, but weren't the only interested side with both Spurs and Newcastle United trying to complete a deal for the former England captain.

Beckham would have been able to play 13 games in the Premier League prior to having to go back to LA Galaxy, but the superstar preferred a move to Tottenham and ended up training with them throughout January without a deal being completed.

Nonetheless, it was another move that Blackburn had missed out on, and they had to settle for the likes of Ruben Rochina and Mauro Formica, perhaps not quite as exciting as Ronaldinho and Beckham...

Blackburn's January 2011 business set the tone for an awful run of form

Venky's were undoubtedly too ambitious in what was their first transfer window, and after missing out on Beckham and Ronaldinho, they were forced into panic buys, signing the likes of Roque Santa Cruz and Jermaine Jones on loan, while signing the aforementioned Rochina and Formica on a permanent basis, both of whom lacked Premier League experience.

Between January and April, Blackburn went over three months without winning a league game, going ten games without a win, which well and truly dragged them into the relegation battle.

An unbeaten May which saw them win away to Wolves on the final day ensured they stayed up, finishing 15th, just four points from the drop.

It was a lucky escape for Rovers, but it was a sign of things to come, and they were relegated the following season, and are yet to return to the top-flight.

Steve Kean's reign, and the early years of Venky's ownership of Blackburn proved a disaster, and targeting vanity signings instead of realistic players who could come in and help the club was clearly a mistake.

Ronaldinho and Beckham were never likely to sign for Blackburn, and looking back, it's incredible that the club targeted that calibre of player and not a huge surprise they were unsuccessful in the pursuit of their signatures.