Table of Contents
- Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are among the greatest teams in history
- It is rare for a player to attract the attention of Barca and Madrid at the same time
- There are few footballers like Luis Suarez who were wanted by both teams at the same time and had to choose one
SportsLeo brings you five top players who chose Barcelona over Real Madrid. FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are two of the greatest teams in La Liga. The Spanish teams are among the best teams in the world.
It is the dream of nearly every top footballer to play for either Real Madrid or FC Barcelona. However, only a few get the chance to play for either clubs.
Some players are so good that both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona want to sign them at the same time. Some preferred Real Madrid, whereas some chose FC Barcelona. This article will focus on the players who rejected Real Madrid and chose FC Barcelona as their destination.
1. Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez is one of the best forwards the football world has ever seen. He is among the players who chose Barcelona over Real Madrid.
The Uruguayan was at his best while playing for Liverpool in the English Premier League. He managed to score 30 league goals during the 2013-14 season. Due to his goalscoring prowess, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona began chasing for the striker’s signature immediately after the end of that season.
Both teams wanted to have Suarez in their squad the following season. However, the lethal striker chose FC Barcelona over Real Madrid. During an interview on COPE’s El Partido de las 12 show, Suarez said that he rejected the Los Blancos because he had always dreamt of playing for FC Barcelona.
The former Liverpool star spent six seasons at FC Barcelona, winning several trophies, including four La Liga titles and a UEFA Champions League title. Suarez joined Atletico Madrid from FC Barcelona in the summer of 2020. After a short spell back in South America, he is currently playing for Inter Miami.
Suarez celebrates after scoring for FC Barcelona. Photo/ FC Barcelona.
2. Neymar Jr
Neymar, one of the players who chose Barcelona over Real Madrid, showed the potential to become a football star while still a youngster at Santos. Real Madrid wanted to sign Neymar to their academy in 2006 when he was 13. The move did not happen.
The Los Blancos came again in 2013 and engaged in a bidding war for Neymar with FC Barcelona. Neymar, who had gotten the football world’s attention, rejected Real Madrid and chose FC Barcelona. According to Neymar, he chose FC Barcelona for footballing reasons.
3. Cesc Fabregas
Cesc Fabregas is one of the top player who chose Barcelona over Real Madrid. The legendary midfielder was one of the finest midfielders during his days with Arsenal. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona approached Fabregas during the 2011 summer transfer window.
Cesc Fabregas.. Photo/ Transfermarkt.
Fabregas picked the Catalans over Real Madrid, who were also interested in him. During an interview, Fabregas revealed that Ramon Calderon, former Real Madrid president, called him with the aim of convincing him to join the Los Blancos. Fabregas told Ramon that he had already chosen Barca.
Fabregas spent three years with FC Barcelona, winning the UEFA Super Cup, La Liga, FIFA Club World Cup and the Copa del Rey. He is currently the manager of Italian side Como.
4. Ivan Rakitic
Ivan Rakitic showed his potential while playing for Sevilla. He was a target for Real Madrid and FC Barcelona during the 2014 summer transfer window.
The midfield maestro is among the players who chose Barcelona over Real Madrid. The Los Blancos came to persuade Rakitic again during the 2016 transfer window. On top of that, they sent Modric, who was his international teammate to convince him to join the Los Blancos. Unfortunately, Rakitic said no to Real Madrid.
Rakitic returned to Sevilla in 2020 after leaving Barca. The Croatian playmaker won a UEFA Champions League, among other titles, during his time with FC Barcelona. He is currently playing for HNL club Hajduk Split.
5. Andre Gomes
Andre Gomes was a target of top European teams during the 2016 summer transfer window. Apart from FC Barcelona and Real Madrid , other teams such as Chelsea and Manchester United were interested in him.
Gomes preferred a move to FC Barcelona, rejecting Real Madrid in the process. The Portuguese star said on his first day at FC Barcelona that he chose the Catalans because it was his dream to play for them.
Andre Gomes is one of the players who chose Barcelona over Real Madrid. Photo/ FC Barcelona.
However, Gomes’ time at FC Barcelona was not a success as he rarely got playing time. The central midfielder won the La Liga, Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana with Barca. He joined Everton in 2019 and after a spell with the Premier League side he signed with Lille.
