10 Players You Didn't Know Real Madrid Almost Signed

3. Luis Suarez

There are only a finite amount of clubs on the planet who could afford a player of the ilk and calibre of Luis Suarez. Last summer, Arsenal€™s infamous £40 million plus one pound bid for the Uruguayan maverick was but a pipedream for Wenger, as he publicly pined for the spectacle and grandeur of La Liga. It was a similar scenario to this summer €“ with a biting ban having been imposed on him, ruling him out of the opening weeks of the season, an undeterred Spanish giant were still registering their interest in the world-class talent.

''To say no to Madrid would always be difficult and more so with the team they have. I have a contract with Liverpool, but it would be very difficult to say not to Real Madrid. There are a lot of rumours in the transfer period, but you never know until firm offers are made.€™€™ €“ Luis Suarez, May 2011.

Rather than rebuff the speculation linking him with a move to the Galacticos, he had taken to a Uruguayan radio station to actively encourage the Madridistas, which ultimately led to the controversial striker being instructed to train alone. In the end, Liverpool braced themselves for any approach, standing firm in their adamant refusal to allow Suarez to leave. Frustrated, Madrid turned their attention to another Premier League side, and broke the world transfer record on an exciting Welsh winger by the name of Gareth Bale. With Suarez€™ first game for Barcelona pencilled in for El Clasico at the end of October, it will be interesting to see what sort of a reception the Madridistas give to one of the game's most notorious figures. After all, were it not for a certain Welshman, he could have been one of their own.