Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff has revealed he almost signed for bitter rivals Real Madrid from Ajax in 1973.
The Dutch giants were ready to sell the mercurial midfielder to Los Blancos and preferred to sell him to the Santiago Bernabeu side because the deal on offer was more lucrative to them.
But Cruyff revealed he wanted to join Los Cules because to him it represented a bigger challenge.
Speaking on a documentary on TV3, Cryuff said: “I remember my move to Spain was quite controversial. People said I was going to a fascist country. The president of Ajax wanted to sell me to Real Madrid.
He added: “I was born shortly after the war, though, and was taught not to just accept anything. Barcelona weren’t at the same level as Madrid football wise, but it was a challenge to play for a Catalan club. Barcelona was more than a club.”
Cruyff won La Liga in his first season at the Nou Camp and the Copa del Rey in 1977-78 before eventually leaving to play in the US. He returned in 1988 and elevated himself to legendary status by winning four league titles in a row and guiding Barcelona to their first European Cup success in 1991-92.
