As a football powerhouse, Real Madrid has always been a dream destination for many stars, including Kylian Mbappé, Neymar, and Paul Pogba, all of whom have harbored an "El Real dream."
However, despite Real Madrid's ability to attract numerous talents to the Bernabéu, there are still a few top-tier players who missed the chance to join the club for various reasons, much to the regret of Real Madrid fans.
Neymar
Now 32 and playing for Al-Hilal, Brazilian superstar Neymar has struggled with injuries due to lack of discipline and weight gain.
Nevertheless, during his peak, Neymar was undoubtedly the third-best player in the world during the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry era and was the core and captain of the Brazilian national team.
In the summer of 2013, Neymar joined Barcelona for a transfer fee of €57 million.
During his time at Barca, he participated in nine El Clásico matches, scoring three goals and providing six assists, making him one of the most outstanding players in these encounters.
Neymar almost joined Real Madrid at one point.
At 13, he trialed in Madrid and was even part of Real Madrid's youth team plans for the 2005/06 season.
Former Santos president Teixeira revealed in an interview that Neymar nearly joined Real Madrid in 2006, but he ultimately blocked the transfer.
Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has always admired Neymar and has been regretful about missing out on him.
In 2019, Pérez contacted Paris Saint-Germain again, and PSG was willing to sell Neymar to Real Madrid.
However, the transfer fell through due to opposition from Zinedine Zidane.
Joaquín
Born on July 21, 1981, Joaquín made a name for himself at the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan, almost single-handedly tearing apart South Korea's left flank.
Unfortunately, due to an unfair refereeing decision, the match went into a penalty shootout, where Joaquín missed a crucial penalty, leading to Spain's elimination.
After the World Cup, Joaquín became a hot commodity in the transfer market, and Real Madrid was very close to signing him.
Joaquín was even ready to sign a contract and undergo a medical with Real Madrid.
However, due to the high asking price from club president Lopera, he ultimately did not join Real Madrid.
In a 2018 interview with Spanish media, Joaquín expressed that not joining Real Madrid was a very painful experience for him.
Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira is considered one of the best players in Premier League history.
From 1996 to 2005, he played for Arsenal, serving as the team's main midfielder and captain for a long time.
During his time at Arsenal, he made 406 appearances in all competitions, scoring 32 goals and providing 46 assists, helping the team win three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and three Community Shields.
After Claude Makélélé left Real Madrid, the club sought to bring in Vieira to replace him.
In 2004, the two parties were close to signing, but Vieira changed his mind at the last moment and decided to stay at Arsenal.
He later joined Juventus, Inter Milan, and Manchester City, retiring at City and becoming head of their youth development.
Vieira himself revealed that not joining Real Madrid might be the only regret of his career.
David de Gea
David de Gea's story with Real Madrid is filled with drama. De Gea, a product of Atlético Madrid's youth academy, was promoted to the first team at 19.
In July 2011, he transferred from Atlético to Manchester United for €25 million, starting a 12-year career with the Red Devils, growing from a raw talent to a world-class goalkeeper.
At his peak, he was ranked among the top five, even top three, goalkeepers in the world.
In the summer of 2015, Real Madrid intended to sign De Gea, and De Gea himself was eager to join.
After nearly two months of tough negotiations, Real Madrid and Manchester United finally agreed on De Gea's transfer shortly before the transfer window closed, with Real Madrid even agreeing to send their main goalkeeper Keylor Navas to Manchester United.
However, a fax machine malfunction at the last minute caused the transfer to fall through. Navas remained at Real Madrid, helping the team win three consecutive Champions League titles, while De Gea left Manchester United after the 2022/23 season, becoming a free agent and yet to find a new club.
These players missed the chance to join Real Madrid for various reasons, causing the club to lose out on some top talents during their peak years and leaving fans deeply regretful.
These unfulfilled transfer stories have become part of football history, making people look forward to future transfer markets with anticipation.
Perhaps one day, these missed connections will be rekindled in different ways elsewhere.
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