11 Players You Didn't Know Barcelona Almost Signed

RC Deportivo La Coruna v Real Madrid CF - La Liga
These players joining Barcelona remained Fantasy!

The rivalry between F.C Barcelona and Real Madrid is something that they are more known of. The two clubs every single season dominate La Liga and having the best players in the world. The fixture is more than just a game for both the clubs and their fans.Imagine a world where this player is signed to a club better known as 'Catalan Giants' Barcelona. Then Barca would have been one of the strongest teams ever seen by anyone in the world. Well, it remained a fantasy for the better good of other clubs such as Giants rival Real Madrid, and etc.

While there are a handful of players who have represented a few clubs, there are a lot of players that were lured by some, but only one managed to sign the star.

But who are these 11 Players You Didn't Know Barcelona Almost Signed? Read On!


#11 Alfredo Di Stéfano

His addition to the Madrid was proved well worth
His addition to the Madrid was proved well worth

In 1952, Di Stefano, who represented Colombian side, Millonarios, was in Spain for a friendly tournament. He was already a renown player who was boasting of a goal record that stood at almost a goal-per-game.

According to the report at FC Barcelona, The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) intervened and refused to sanction the player's move as they had not agreed on a deal with Millonarios. Eventually, they reached an agreement with Millonarios as a move made by Santiago Bernabeu (Real Madrid president).

They believed that they only had to talk to River Plate and agreed on a deal with them. They also arranged for Di Stefano and his family to move to Spain in 1953. Millonarios rejected Barcelona's bid for their striker, but the Catalan giants refused to take the rejection seriously.

Despite being with Millonarios, his contract was under control by River Plate.

Both clubs claimed to have agreed a deal with the player and the RFEF had to intervene again. The RFEF gave a bizarre verdict stating the player could play for both clubs in alternate seasons with Real Madrid being the first one.

He was proved well worth to Madrid, as his addition to the club leads them to a record five-straight European Cup championships and eight La Liga titles over his 11-year span with the club.

#10 Gianluigi Buffon

Buffon has been a mainstay for five-time Champions
Buffon has been a mainstay for five-time Champions

While at Parma, the World Cup winner declined an offer from the Catalan club, having already agreed to join Juventus instead.

Everything was done in good spirits and Buffon remained on very good terms with then Barcelona president Joan Gaspart, thanking him for his interest in securing his services.

In an interview with former Juventus goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon revealed, he nearly joined Barcelona instead of the Serie A giants.

Many years later, Buffon explained during an interview with Sportmediaset that: “However, I decided to join Juventus after discussing it with my father and I'm still grateful for it. Being at Juventus is a unique experience and has brought me a lot of satisfaction"

According to Goal.com, the World Cup-winning Italy goalkeeper joined Juventus for £32.6m in 2001.

He left Parma to join Juventus in 2001 and since then the 40-year-old has gone on to become one of the greatest and iconic goalkeepers of all-time, winning seven-Scudetti among other trophies.

Buffon has been a mainstay for five-time defending champions.

Gianluigi Buffon has signed an initial one-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain after leaving Juventus, the Ligue 1 champions have announced. But he decided against retirement after his contract in Turin expired this year's summer.

After this, he reached a 12-month agreement to join Paris Saint-Germain with the option of a one more year.

#9 Vincent Kompany

Vincent move to Manchester City in 2009 since then he has made name for himself
Vincent move to Manchester City in 2009 since then he has made name for himself

The City captain, who has been assumed with a move to Barcelona several times in 2014, revealed that he almost joined the Barcelona in 2008 before he moved to the Etihad.

Vincent Kompany moved to Manchester City in 2009 and has since made a name for himself as one of the Premier League's best center halves. The defender has helped City win two-league titles and an FA Cup, and was named Premier League PFA Team of the Year in 2013, after helping his side keep the second-best defensive record in England's top flight.

After leaving German side SV in 2008, Kompany revealed he came so close to joining Barcelona "a few times".

Vincent said: "I have been really close to signing a contract with Barcelona for a no. of times, but, officially, I can assure you that there has been absolutely nothing that I know of."

Kompany has dismissed talk of a move to the Barc. and insists that he is happy at Manchester City.

According to the Dailystar.co.uk, In the end, however, despite Barcelona's best efforts, Kompany moved to Manchester City in a deal worth £6 million, a fee that represents a complete bargain considering the Belgian international has since grown into one of the best center-backs in world football.

#8 Juan Mata

He has totally shined since moving to the Mestalla, scoring 33 goals in 129 matches
He was totally shined at the Mestalla, scoring 33 goals in 129 matches

Juan Mata currently signed to Manchester United F.C acting as a midfielder, began his career with Real Madrid, emerging as a star from their academy in 2006 and playing 39 times for their B team scoring 10-times.

But, he never made it big in Spain and didn't make a single appearance for their major side. Also, there were some reports, interest from Barcelona for Juan, it came close but never really happened.

The move wasn't successful, though Mata stayed in Spain, it was at Valencia, whom he joined instead of the Catalans. He totally shined at the Mestalla, scoring 33 goals in 129 matches for The Bats before finally moving to Chelsea in 2011.

According to The Guardian, there were some interest from Barca for Juan during, La Liga club, searching for a creative midfielder. The deal between him and Barcelona was quite strong, and Mata was constantly spoken of as a future Barca star.

#7 Kaka

Kaka left Milan but joined Barcelona's fierce rival Real Madrid
Kaka left Milan but joined Barcelona's fierce rival Real Madrid

Former A.C Milan star, Kaka would have been playing alongside Xavi and Iniesta had the club accepted a swap deal offered to them by AC Milan.

According to the Dailypost.ng Barcelona president, Joan Laporta had dinner with Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi when the Barcelona president proposed a player-exchange deal involving the Brazilian and Ronaldinho

Laporta said, " It started out as a bit of a joke, but Berlusconi quickly turned serious, Ronaldinho was a top player for Barcelona back then, and they were reluctant to let him go."

But in 2015, when Kaka was playing for Orlando City in the MLS, it is rumored that he was offered a chance to join Barcelona. He was working on an opportunity to get back into his national team 'Spain' during the season break in the MLS.

Kaka left Milan but joined Barca's fierce El Clasico rivals Real Madrid instead, where he flopped badly, falling down the pecking order in his final season at the Bernabeu and managing just three goals in 2012-13.

Later, on 17 December 2017, Kaká announced his retirement after turning down several offers from former clubs, Milan and São Paulo.

#6 Fernando Morientes

Morientes appeared 46-times in 2001-02, in which he scored 21 goals
Morientes appeared 46-times in 2001-02, in which he scored 21 goals

Former Real Madrid player, Fernando Morientes is a legend, in 2002, when the striker was at the peak of his career, he came really close to sign a contract with the Clasico divide by signing for Barcelona in highly-complex circumstances.

According to a report at the goal.com that time, Real was trying to negotiate a deal with cross-exchange, Milan for Ronaldo. But the Italians were keen to include Morientes as part of the deal, knowing they could sell him on to Barca for a profit.

In the end, Barca halted negotiations with the player's agent in what was seen by Madrid as a bid to sabotage their move for Ronaldo. In Real Madrid, Morientes moved to the Bernabeu for a whopping amount of €46m.

Morientes appeared 46-times in 2001-02 in which he scored 21 goals, but still struggled to make an impact following the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo and ended up playing only six times in 27 games between 2002-03.

#5 Sergio Aguero

He is arguably one of the best to play in the Premier League
He is arguably one of the best to play in the Premier League

Despite having signed for Manchester City only 12 months before, Sergio Aguero reportedly came close to joining Barcelona in 2012.

According to the reports at express.co.uk, The club made inquiries over Aguero's availability following his move from Spanish side Atletico Madrid and even held a series of very serious meetings with his representatives.

However, despite the Catalans making a serious approach for the Argentina marksman, nothing came of the reported discussions as Barca settled for Neymar Jr. instead, signing him in 2013 from Santos.

The arrival at the Nou Camp of the Brazillian vanquished need for Aguero's. Nevertheless, Aguero was supposedly keen on a move to Catalonia, also the striker misses Spain after leaving Atletico and believes he would one day fit in "perfectly" at Barcelona.

The Argentine striker is arguably one of the best to ever play in the Premier League.

#4 Andrea Pirlo

Pirlo came close in 2010 joining Barcelona, during his A.C Milan days
Pirlo came close in 2010 joining Barcelona, during his A.C Milan days

Currently signed to Italy national football team, Andrea Pirlo, revealed in 2014, former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola tried to take his move to the Nou Camp.

In 2014, his autobiography was released "I Think Before I Play", where he discusses his illustrious career for club and nation. And as a part of his biography one revelation regards to Pirlo come close in 2010 joining Barcelona, during his A.C Milan days.

According to the report at the mirror.co.uk, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was heading in another direction and the Italian has claimed he was very interested in a switch to the Nou Camp.

Barca made inquiries into a swap deal. In an interview, Pirlo said: "The discussions went on for a while and, ultimately, Milan didn't give in, it was always going to go like that, I suppose. Back then, they still thought, I had all my abilities and so they kept me, without ever getting involved in full-on negotiations."

#3 Mesut Özil

Mesut was the hottest sensation in the world of Football after the 2010 FIFA World Cup
Mesut was the hottest sensation in the world of Football after the 2010 FIFA World Cup

In 2010, Ozil was set to leave Werder Bremen, and Barcelona reached an agreement to sign the German for just £7 million. The midfielder even went on to met with the Catalan's president, Sandro Rosell, but the Spanish club's board have not interested in the move.

Mesut Ozil has revealed that the reason for him rejecting Barcelona and then signing for Real Madrid was Pep Guardiola. The German midfielder made the revelations in his newly released autobiography, ‘Die Magie des Spiels‘ (The Magic of the Game), serialized by Bild.

Ozil was the hottest sensation in the world of football after the 2010 FIFA World Cup, with the German confirming that he held talks with Arsenal, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid, before finally signing for Los Blancos.

According to the dailystar.co.uk, Barcelona board's uncertainty gave Real Madrid enough time to swoop in and sign him to Bernabeu. Madrid ended up paying £11 million for Ozil, and it was repaid by the midfielder who flourished and developed into a world class player.

It is reported that Barcelona's board was busy deciding the future of Thierry Henry at the club and that distracted them from the signing of Ozil. Alexander Hleb was also said to be the top priority of the board at that time.

#2 Marco Asensio

Ascensio was so impressive
Asensio was so impressive that Mallorca promoted him to the senior squad right away

Currently signed to Real Madrid, Marco Asensio was scouted by Barcelona during his time at RCD Mallorca. The young Spaniard was in top form for the B team when he was just 17 years old.

The reports said, that he was so impressive that Mallorca promoted him to the senior squad right away. He continued to impress for the first team, and thus Barcelona draws their attention toward him.

According to the report at goal.com, Asensio was also keen on joining Barcelona so a deal was agreed for the youngster to make his move to the Barc. for an amount of €4.5 million.

Mallorca wanted the full amount in a lump-sum while Barcelona wanted to pay the fee agreed in installments. With the deal halted, it gave Real Madrid to swoop in and take him with them.

The midfielder was loaned back to Mallorca straight away and then loaned out to Espanyol in 2016. After impressing in both his loan spells, Zidane gave him a chance to prove himself for the Real Madrid first team.

Asensio did impress Zidane so much that when he got the chances the manager started preferring him over big-money signings like James Rodriguez and Isco.

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#1 Cristiano Ronaldo

The God of Football...
The God of Football...

Just imagine a scene where Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were playing together as a team, It's a mouth-watering scenario and, It almost happened twice!

According to the report at the skysport.com Joan Laporta, former Barcelona president has revealed in an interview, that the Barcelona in 2003 almost signed Cristiano Ronaldo before he went on to sign for Manchester United. He said: "Mendes offered us, Cristiano Ronaldo when he was still under contract with Sporting. We worked with Jorge quite a lot back then."

Ronaldo finally decided to leave the club after spending six years at Old Trafford. He wanted to sign for Real Madrid, but Sir Alex Ferguson, who was like a father to him didn't want him to join Real Madrid instead of Barcelona.

Ferguson preferred Barcelona instead of Real Madrid and offered them Cristiano Ronaldo's deal.

Current Real Madrid president, Florentino Pérez confirmed this in the year 2014 and said, "I don't know why, but Ferguson is a bit obsessed with Real Madrid. He doesn't like us, I have to say that. He then said no, Cristiano is going to leave for Barcelona instead of Real Madrid, and Barca said that's okay we are prepared to pay whatever the amount you are asking. But the important thing was that the Ronaldo said 'no, it's Real Madrid or nothing."


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Edited by Alan John