5 Barcelona players who almost joined Real Madrid

Joan Laporta is inaugurated as new FC Barcelona president.
Joan Laporta is inaugurated as new FC Barcelona president.

There are very few rivalries in world football bigger than the one between Spanish giants, Barcelona and Real Madrid. The two clubs have been at the pinnacle of Spanish football over the last century, sharing 60 titles between themselves in La Liga's 92-year old history.

Real Madrid have won the highest number of La Liga titles (34), followed closely in second by Barcelona, who have managed 26. The two clubs have been at loggerheads since the inception of La Liga, and their respective fanbases share an intense rivalry as well.

In such a scenario, a Barcelona player joining Real Madrid, or vice-versa, is almost viewed as a mortal sin by the club's supporters. However, players such as Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Luis Enrique and Samuel Eto'o have crossed the divide and donned their rival club's jersey.

Players crossed the divide more frequently in the earlier decades of 1900s, while the 2000s witnessed fewer players jumping ship due to the increased hostility of fans towards such a player being perceived as a traitor.

Both clubs have always aggressively gone after the best talents in the world. Not surprisingly, some of the biggest names in Barcelona's football history were almost on the verge of signing for their El Clasico rivals before making their names at Camp Nou. Today, we take a look at some of them.

5 Barcelona players who almost joined Real Madrid


#5 Cesc Fàbregas

FC Barcelona Training Session
FC Barcelona Training Session

The first name on our list is a product of the famed La Masia academy - Cesc Fàbregas. The Spanish midfield maestro started off his career at the FC Barcelona youth academy, but left at 16 when he signed for Arsenal at the beginning of the 2003-04 season. Fàbregas enjoyed an illustrious career for the Gunners, and at the end of the 2010-11 season, he decided to leave London in search of a new adventure.

Although it was always destined that Fàbregas will return home to Camp Nou, Real Madrid were unwilling to give up without a fight. The 33-year old Spaniard revealed that he was approached by ex-Real Madrid president Ramón Calderón but had to turn down their advances.

In an interview, Fàbregas said, "That you are wanted by Madrid, one of the biggest teams in history, is important." When asked about his reply to Calderon, Fàbregas admitted he did not say "No" but instead said, "not now".

Fàbregas signed for the Catalans, where he enjoyed a three-year spell, winning a host of titles including La Liga, Copa Del Rey, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and the Spanish Super Cup.


#4 Ivan Rakitić

Sevilla FC v FC Barcelona - La Liga Santander
Sevilla FC v FC Barcelona - La Liga Santander

Another Barcelona midfielder who almost made the move to their Clasico rivals is Croatia's midfield enforcer - Ivan Rakitić. After a few incredible seasons at Sevilla, Rakitić was one of the hottest properties in world football, with the biggest clubs vying for the Croatian's signature.

One of these clubs were Real Madrid, but the now 33-year old felt his playing style was more suited to Barcelona's gameplay and made the switch from Sevilla to Camp Nou in 2014.

Ivan Rakitić has been one of the more influential players for the Blaugrana in recent times, making 200 appearances for the club before moving back to Sevilla last season. It is hard to assess whether the Croatian would have enjoyed more success at Real Madrid, but the prospect of seeing the Croatian duo of Modric and Rakitic in Real Madrid's midfield is one of the greatest "What Ifs" in world football.

#3 Ronaldinho

FC Barcelona Opens First US Office
FC Barcelona Opens First US Office

The failure to sign Ronaldinho is probably one of Real Madrid's biggest regrets, as the nimble-footed Brazilian played a massive role in Barcelona's dominance of La Liga in the 2000s. Ronaldinho was one of the greatest players to have ever set foot in Spanish football, and what made it worse for the Madrid faithful was his exceptional performances against Los Blancos time and time again.

One such performance came against their El Clasico rivals at Santiago Bernabéu, where Ronaldinho almost single-handedly brushed aside the men in white, scoring two stunning goals to beat Iker Casillas. "Dinho", as called endearingly by the fans, was one of the very few Barcelona players to have received a standing ovation from the opposition fans at Santiago Bernabéu.

When the Brazilian was available in the transfer window, following his departure from PSG, Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez had a chance to sign the dynamic forward. However, Pérez passed on that opportunity to sign David Beckham instead, as he was believed to be more marketable than Ronaldinho. Although Beckham enjoyed a glorious spell with Los Blancos, Ronaldinho will always go down as a great miss for Los Blancos.


#2 Neymar Jr.

FC Barcelona v RCD Espanyol - La Liga
FC Barcelona v RCD Espanyol - La Liga

It is no secret that Real Madrid have been vying for Neymar's signature since his days at Santos, but the Brazilian joined bitter rivals Barcelona instead.

Linking up with Messi and Suarez back in the day, the trio formed arguably the most feared attacking cohort in world football. The 29-year old shifted base to Camp Nou in the summer of 2013, and in the 2014-15 season he laid his hands on one of the most coveted trebles in European football - La Liga, Copa Del Rey and Champions League.

Real Madrid tried to sign the Brazilian unsuccessfully, not once, but twice. The first attempt was made during Neymar's time at the Santos youth academy when they wanted to acquire his services for Real's youth academy.

Neymar was just 13 at the time and preferred to hone his skills at his hometown in Santos instead of moving continents to Madrid. Seven years later, Real Madrid tried to sign the 29-year old once again, but after a bidding war with the biggest clubs in world football, Neymar decided to sign on the dotted line for Barcelona.

Neymar's move to Barcelona can arguably be seen as another consequence of Ronaldinho's stint at Camp Nou, as the budding Brazilian superstar wanted to follow in his Brazilian idol's footsteps. The failure to sign Neymar saw Real Madrid snap up Gareth Bale in the 2013 summer transfer window.


#1 Lionel Messi

FC Barcelona v SD Huesca - La Liga Santander
FC Barcelona v SD Huesca - La Liga Santander

Yes, you heard that right - Barcelona legend Lionel Messi could have almost signed for Los Blancos, as revealed by his former agent, Horacio Gaggioli, in an interview with ESPN.com. Gaggioli was Messi's agent during his youth days and was given the responsibility by Messi's family to take their son to a city in Spain.

In the interview, he said, "Due to life circumstances, I went to live in Barcelona, and I brought him to Barca for a trial. But I was about to live in Madrid. If that had happened, I would have taken him to Madrid for a trial. That's life; those are the details. Today, Messi could have been a Real Madrid player."

It was also reported in recent years, specifically by Spanish outlet Cadena COPE, that Real Madrid President, Florentino Pérez tried to sign the Barcelona legend on three separate occasions but was reportedly met with a "Thanks, but no". Although Perez has a reputation for pulling off some of the biggest signings in modern football history, the signing of Messi was probably a bridge too far even for the Real Madrid Supremo.

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Edited by S Chowdhury