10 Players You Didn't Know Barcelona Almost Signed

4. Alfredo Di Stefano

Alfredo Di Stefano is widely considered one of Real Madrid's greatest ever players, earning legendary status by scoring 49 goals in 58 European Cup appearances, a record which for decades went unsurpassed until Raul, another Madrid player, overtook it in 2005. But one of the most bizarre situations in the history of football almost led him to play for Barcelona. In the early 1950's, Di Stefano was playing for Colombian side Millonarios and was scoring almost a goal-per-game. He travelled to Spain for a friendly against Madrid and instantly earned Barca and Los Blanco's attention, with both La Liga sides pressing hard to land his signature. The matter was complicated by third-party ownership however as the striker's registration rights were held by Argentine side River Plate, Di Stefano's first club. Nevertheless, Barca progressed gradually with discussions with both South American clubs, trying to find a breakthrough. In a bid to settle the matter, the Spaniards enlisted the help of Catalan Joan Busquets, who lived in Colombia. Busquets just so happened however to be a director at one of Millonarios's biggest rivals, Santa Fe, and his presence in negotiations led to Millonarios getting cold feet, with the Colombian club rejecting Barca's protracted advances. Barca were flustered and ignored Millonarios's rejection, believing River Plate were the only side they needed to do business with as it was the Argentinians who held Di Stefano's registration. They then arranges for the striker and his family to leave Colombia and flew them out to Spain, where he began to settle at his 'new' club and played at least one pre-season friendly for the Catalans. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) stepped in however and ruled the 'transfer' of Di Stefano to Barca as illegitimate as Millonarios had not agreed to it. Real meanwhile were making better progress with Millonarios over a deal though the matter was at an impasse. The RFEF eventually reached its verdict on the controversy in the summer of 1953, and astonishingly announced Di Stefano could play for all four clubs alternately over the course of four seasons. Humiliated Barca president Marti Carreto was forced to resign and Barca's board tore up the contract, allowing Di Stefano to move to Madrid permanently.