Real Madrid planned to sign Luis Suárez in 2014 and even considered selling Karim Benzema, the Uruguayan striker revealed on ‘La Mesa’ program. Finally, he chose Barcelona.
Simón Escuderosimonescudero_Andy HallUpdate: Feb 18th, 2024 10:36 EST0
TONY GENTILEDiarioAS
For a fleeting moment, there was a very slight chance that we could have seen Luis Suárez unveiled by Real Madrid during the summer of 2014. The Uruguayan was in his prime after four great seasons at Liverpool, scoring 82 goals in 133 games. That scintillating form attracted a number of clubs in Europe – among them, Real Madrid and Barcelona. In the end it was the Blaugranas who won his signature, teaming him up with Lionel Messi and Neymar to form one of the most exciting frontlines in living memory.
G⚽AL OF THE DAY 🔙 #OTD 8 years of Messi and Suárez's indirect penalty 🌟 pic.twitter.com/VDIykGfT0r
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 14, 2024
Benzema a Gunner?
The 37-year-old striker says it could have ended up very differently. “My representative spoke with Madrid,” he revealed in an interview with DelSol program La Mesa. “Before the 2014 World Cup, Real Madrid wanted to sign me and everything was going in the right direction… They were thinking about selling Benzema to Arsenal, everything was already done”. Benzema, who signed for Madrid in 2009, initially struggled to get into his stride in Spain – very much in Cristiano’s shadow, he contributed just eight goals in his debut season and 15 in the following one. It was only years later, when he established himself as one of the main ps within the team.
⚽️🇺🇾 El Pistolero!@LuisSuarez9 🔫#CeltaBarça#LaLigaHighlights pic.twitter.com/FnWdt29h2X
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 17, 2024
Suárez explained that he felt more attracted to Barcelona because when he had a Barça kit when he was a child. “When the World Cup started, Barça entered the race, and obviously I preferred Barça. After the biting incident, Madrid lost interest and withdrew a little. Barça seemed more appealing to me… In the end I had both options and I chose Barça because it was my dream,” the forward told La Mesa.
