10 Players Who Rejected Real Madrid
If these has materialised, El Clásico would have had a whole different look to it.
Being one of the most successful clubs on the planet and with an alumni that reads like a who's-who of world football, it seems ludicrous that anyone would want to turn away an opportunity to don the famous white shirt of Real Madrid.
But still, it does happen. In spite of the huge global fanbase, countless millions, and assurances of glory, Los Blancos have been known to have players simply decline their offers. For some it's the right decision, but for others it's a wasted opportunity that their careers never quite recovered from.
For all the noise of transfer silly-season, and the annual will-they-won't-theys surrounding the Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid's public pursuits of their next big stars have sometimes ended in a far more private disappointment. After all, clubs love to whip up excitement at who they're going to sign, but are less boastful about who's turned them down.
Their squads of past and present have featured some of the biggest names in the game, but their nearly men make for even more compelling reading.
10. Suso
Not many players decided at such a tender age to leave their home country to join a Premier League. Not many players decide to take such a course amid interest from a huge club in said home country. But this was exactly what Suso did at only 17 years old, deciding to join Liverpool instead of Real Madrid.
In hindsight, his move to Liverpool wasn’t the best decision the young Spaniard ever made, due to the lack of appearances for the side, yet it’s amazing how he came to that decision in the first place.
“I had practically done it with Madrid until Liverpool came in. I had agreed on a contract with Real but then Rafael Benitez called me and told me he had a lot of confidence in me and that I should go to Liverpool.”
“I had wanted to play in the Premier League.”
Now away from the limelight in Liverpool, he is now rebuilding his career with AC Milan, scoring seven times in 33 outings last season, along with earning a senior cap with Spain.