Former Barcelona club captain Carles Puyol has revealed he turned down the opportunity to join Real Madrid on two occasions.
Now aged 41, Puyol retired in 2014 having made 593 first-team appearances for the Catalan giants and winning 100 caps for the Spanish national team.
However, he has since revealed that Los Blancos twice made approaches for him in his illustrious career, but were unable to tempt him away from the Camp Nou.
“Even on two occasions they wanted to sign me but I was already in the best club in the world, I wanted to win titles at Barça and that's why I stayed,” Puyol is cited as telling TV3 by Marca.
“The first time was in the season after I had marked Luis Figo (the day of his return to Camp Nou, in the 01-02 season).
“The second occasion was three years later, when Camacho was appointed at Real Madrid – he loved me and Ronaldinho.”
Puyol was a rock at the heart of the Catalan club’s defence over 15 seasons.
