Former Real Madrid star Isco has admitted that he turned down the chance to join Barcelona during his stay at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The playmaker announced himself as one of Europe's top playmakers during Malaga's run to the Champions League quarter-finals in 2013, earning himself a move to Los Blancos that summer.
Isco ended up spending nine years at Real Madrid, making 353 appearances and winning 19 trophies with the club before departing in 2022. However, he was rarely ever a regular starter and was often utilised as a substitute.
In an interview with MARCA, Isco revealed he was approached by then-Barcelona Josep Maria Bartomeu in 2018, and Real Madrid renewed his contract at the time as they worried he would jump ship to Camp Nou.
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"They renewed me in the year of the World Cup [in 2018] because I had a year to go and I had earned it. And because I had many offers. There was fear that I would go to a rival team," Isco said.
"I'm talking about Barça. Bartomeu called me and with what Bartomeu was paying at that time...But I was in Madrid very well, with my teammates, with an incredible atmosphere in the dressing room.
"It was the team of my dreams, in which I had I won what I dreamed of. I wasn't leaving Madrid for all the gold in the world. The city is also wonderful. As I have enjoyed in Madrid, I knew that I was not going to enjoy it anywhere else."
Isco joined Sevilla on a free transfer in 2022, but left after a few months following a fall-out behind the scenes. The 31-year-old is once again a free agent.
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This article was originally published on 90min as Isco reveals receiving Barcelona offer while at Real Madrid.
