Zinedine Zidane joined Real Madrid for €75 million, but what many didn't know is he almost ended up at FC Barcelona for just €3.1million five years earlier. Here is why his move didn't happen.
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The three-time FIFA World Player of the Year won six trophies with Juventus and Real Madrid apiece after impressing for Bordeaux in the 1996 UEFA Cup (predecessor of Europa League).
The French side reached the final against Bayern Munich, who had knocked out Barcelona in the semi-final and the defeat ended Johan Cruyff's reign at Camp Nou.
The Dutchman, who had won 12 trophies with Barcelona, later revealed how he had Zidane lined up as a new signing but stalled the transfer because he knew what was coming his way.
"I'm proud that my word about a deal is usually enough for anyone and we'd contacted Bordeaux for Zidane, who was available for $3.5million (€3.1m)," he recalled, as quoted by DailyMail.
"But then I had to contact Zidane and Aaron Winter again and tell them not to hold on for us because I couldn't be sure that Barcelona weren't going to sack me."
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Cruyff did get the axe following two season without a title and Zidane, instead of joining Barcelona, first moved to Juventus where his star rose before he made his world-record move to Real Madrid in 2001.
Do you think Zidane would have been similarly successful at Barcelona? Have your say in the comments section below.
