Olympique Marseille striker Fernando Morientes has revealed how close he came from being sold by Real Madrid to Barcelona.
In 2002/03, before Morientes made his loan move to AS Monaco, Real were suffering a particular difficult financial year.
"The day before the European Super Cup, that we won against Feyenoord, they decided to sell me. The eve of a European Cup final! It was a very unpleasant experience for me," admitted Morientes.
"Madrid was courting Ronaldo and I was going to be part of the transfer. I had to sign for Inter before finishing at Barcelona. Real did not want me and Joan Gaspart, the then Barcelona president, was willing to pay 24m for me.
"But then things flipped over and I was stuck."
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