Over the years, Barcelona and Real Madrid have clashed over some of football’s biggest talents.
While some players did make the move, others were just a signature away from joining their biggest rivals before deals fell apart. Here’s a look at Madrid stars who nearly ended up at Barcelona.
Vinicius Jr.: The Cule Who Chose Madrid
Now a Champions League-winning superstar for Real Madrid, Vinicius Jr. grew up idolizing Barcelona. His admiration was so deep that reports suggest he even cried with joy when the club completed their famous 6-1 comeback against PSG in 2017. That same year, Barcelona believed they had secured his signature.
According to former Barcelona scout Andre Cury, the deal was all but done—until betrayal struck. Vinicius’ agents, once close allies of Cury, suddenly switched allegiance after Real Madrid offered a better financial package. The young Brazilian ended up at the Bernabéu, becoming Madrid’s poster boy. To rub salt in Barca’s wounds, the same thing happened a year later with Rodrygo. Learning from the Vinicius deal, Madrid moved swiftly with a superior offer, leaving Barcelona empty-handed once again.
Xabi Alonso: The Perfect Guardiola Midfielder Who Slipped Away
In 2009, Xabi Alonso was on the market, and his intelligence, passing range, and composure made him an ideal fit for Pep Guardiola’s tiki-taka system. Discussions between Guardiola and then-Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez even took place. But there was one problem—Sergio Busquets.
Guardiola saw Busquets as the future of Barcelona’s midfield and didn’t want to block his pathway. With Barcelona backing off, Real Madrid swooped in and secured Alonso for €30 million. He became a vital part of their midfield and was instrumental in their 2014 Champions League triumph. Meanwhile, Busquets became a Barcelona legend, but fans still wonder what could have been if Alonso had played alongside Xavi and Iniesta.
Luka Modric: The Midfield Maestro Barca Ignored
Before joining Tottenham in 2008, Luka Modric was well within Barcelona’s grasp. However, according to former scout Bojan Krkic Sr., the club was too focused on short-term signings and failed to see the Croatian’s long-term potential. Even after Modric’s rise at Spurs, Barcelona passed on him in 2012 when Real Madrid came calling.
Despite initial struggles in Spain, Modric blossomed into one of the greatest midfielders of all time. He went on to win six Champions League titles and even the Ballon d’Or, making Barcelona’s hesitation one of their biggest transfer blunders.
Cristiano Ronaldo: The Almost Barcelona Signing
It sounds absurd now, but in 2003, Cristiano Ronaldo nearly became a Barcelona player. Before Manchester United secured him, Barcelona had the opportunity to sign him for just €17 million. However, they had already spent big on Ronaldinho, Rafael Márquez, and Ricardo Quaresma that summer and decided against adding another young talent.
Years later, when Sir Alex Ferguson finally accepted Ronaldo’s departure, he reportedly tried to steer him away from Real Madrid, even offering him to Barcelona. But Ronaldo’s dream was always to play at the Bernabéu, and he wouldn’t settle for anything else. Imagine an alternate reality where Ronaldo and Messi played together instead of being eternal rivals.
Kaká: The Swap Deal That Never Happened
Kaká’s move to Real Madrid in 2009 didn’t live up to expectations, but things could have been very different. Years before joining Madrid, Barcelona had a golden opportunity to sign him in a swap deal involving Ronaldinho.
AC Milan’s Silvio Berlusconi proposed the idea to Joan Laporta over dinner. Initially, Laporta thought it was a joke, but Berlusconi was serious. The deal never materialized, and Ronaldinho continued his legendary spell at Barcelona while Kaká stayed at Milan. Years later, when Kaká was in MLS with Orlando City, Barcelona offered him a short-term loan, but out of respect for Madrid, he declined.
Mesut Özil: The Midfield Genius Barcelona Let Slip
After dazzling at the 2010 World Cup, Mesut Özil was set to leave Werder Bremen, with Barcelona being his first choice. A €7 million deal was in place, and club president Sandro Rosell even had dinner with Özil to finalize things. However, Guardiola’s silence changed everything.
Özil later revealed that he was excited about the move but never heard from Guardiola, which made him doubt whether Barcelona truly wanted him. Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho personally called him, explaining exactly how he would fit into Madrid’s system. That assurance made Özil choose Los Blancos, where he quickly became one of the world’s best playmakers.
Arda Güler: The Latest El Clásico Battle
More recently, Arda Güler found himself in the middle of an El Clásico transfer war. The Turkish wonderkid was on Barcelona’s radar, and they had even reached an agreement with him and Fenerbahce. However, Real Madrid triggered his €17.5 million release clause, forcing Barcelona into a bidding dilemma. Instead of matching the offer, Barca backed out, and Güler chose Madrid.
Although he has yet to establish himself at the Bernabéu, if Güler fulfills his potential, Barcelona might regret their hesitation once again.
A Battle That Never Ends
Football’s biggest names have had their destinies shaped by last-minute decisions, betrayals, and financial power struggles. While Barcelona has won some transfer battles, they have also suffered painful defeats. As history has shown, missing out on just one player can change the course of a club’s future forever.
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