Neymar has revealed he could have signed for Real Madrid as a child before backing out of the move.
The Brazilian went on to become a star at Barcelona, forming a deadly alliance with Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi at Camp Nou, before joining Paris Saint-Germain in a world record €222m move in 2017.
However, he has now revealed he could have been turning out more regularly at the Santiago Bernabeu had he signed for the Spanish giants after a trial when he was a youngster.
“When I was ten Real Madrid invited me for a try-out. I was thrilled, I was so happy, I watched their practice. It was during the Galacticos era. I watched their game,” he told the Fenomenos podcast.
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“I watched a game and I think all the goals were scored by Brazilians. I think two by Ronaldo, one by Robinho and a free-kick from Julio Baptista and another by Roberto Carlos.
“After the game I got a picture with all of them. I was over the moon. I stayed there for a week, for the try-out. It lasted for four of five days. On the fifth day they wanted to take me to a championship being held in Barcelona MIC Cup but I quit. I got really homesick and I wanted to go back home.
“It was pretty much all set up for me to play at Real Madrid but then I got back.”
At least now we know there’s an alternative universe out there where Neymar never played with Suarez and Messi and instead rubbed shoulders with Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale.
