There is no rivalry in club football like the one between Real Madrid and Barcelona. They have been constantly at each other’s necks throughout history, battling for supremacy. The fact that they’d have some of the very best players in the world playing for them only enhanced the grandness of the fixture.
Crossing the Clasico divide is something that’s nearly unthinkable, but a few players have done it. Some players who have gone on to play for one club have come close to joining the other.
Today, we take a look at five Real Madrid players who almost joined Barcelona.
5 Real Madrid players who almost joined Barcelona
#5 Alfredo Di Stefano
Alfredo Di Stefano is one of the all-time Real Madrid greats. Di Stefano became famous during his time with Colombian side Millonarios after fleeing from River Plate following a footballers’ strike in his home country.
Barcelona saw an opportunity and launched a bid for Di Stefano which Millonarios rejected. Barcelona did not take that seriously as they were aware that River Plate still held the right to sell Di Stefano. The Catalans subsequently talked to River Plate and agreed a deal with them.
However, the RFEF stepped in and refused to sanction the move as Barcelona had not agreed a deal with Di Stefano’s current club Millonarios. Meanwhile, Real Madrid president Santiago Bernabeu negotiated a deal for Di Stefano with Millonarios.
Both Real Madrid and Barcelona claimed they had an agreement with Di Stefano as well and then the RFEF had to step in once again. They made a bizarre decision whereby Di Stefano would play for Real Madrid and Barcelona in alternate seasons. As per the ruling, he would play for Real Madrid first.
This did not go down well with then Barcelona president Marti Carreto, who decided to bow out of the deal and let Stefano join Real Madrid.
#4 Luka Modric
Real Madrid’s signing of Luka Modric was initially deemed a failure. However, the Croatian has since then gone on to become one of the best players in the world and even won the Ballon d’Or after contributing generously to four UEFA Champions League titles.
But he had come close to joining Barcelona before signing for Tottenham Hotspur in 2008. Bojan Krkic Sr., who worked as a scout for Barcelona, revealed back in 2016 that Barcelona had a great chance to sign a young Luka Modric but they chose not to as the club were thinking ‘short-to-medium-term’.
He said:
He added:
#3 Kaka
Kaka’s big-money move to Real Madrid never reached the heights it was expected to. He was a world-beater at AC Milan and according to Joan Laporta, Barcelona had a great chance to sign Kaka.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta was in his first tenure as club president when he met AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi for dinner. Berlusconi proposed a swap deal involving Kaka and Ronaldinho.
Laporta said:
Interestingly, that wasn’t the only time Kaka could have joined Barcelona. While he was playing for MLS outfit Orlando City, Kaka was rumoured to have been offered the chance to secure a loan move to Barcelona. However, he rejected the offer because of his respect for Real Madrid.
#2 Mesut Ozil
Mesut Ozil could so easily have been an extra at Barcelona. Right before Real Madrid signed Mesut Ozil for £11 million, Barcelona had the deal in their hands but they let it slip. After agreeing to sign Ozil for £7 million, then Barcelona president Sandro Rosell even had dinner with the player.
However, they dilly-dallied over the signing and it gave Real Madrid the chance to swoop in and hijack the deal. Ozil went flourished at Real Madrid and became one of the best playmakers in the world at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Barcelona were reportedly caught up making a decision on Thierry Henry’s future. Ozil has since opened up on his failed Barcelona move. He said:
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo
Yes, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi could have played for the same team. Back in 2003, when Ronaldo had just broken onto the scene and Manchester United were yet to snap him up, Barcelona had a great chance to sign him.
Joan Laporta was Barcelona’s president at the time and he has opened up about the chance to sign Cristiano Ronaldo. He said:
Subsequently, when Cristiano Ronaldo was set to leave Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson wanted him to go to Barcelona instead of Real Madrid. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez talked about this once in 2014. He said:
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