Report: Real Madrid were on the brink of signing Barcelona legend in 2007

In the world of football, some stories are as shocking as they are intriguing. One such tale dates back to July 19, 2007, when Real Madrid were reportedly ready to pay the €60 million release clause for Andres Iniesta, a star player of their arch-rival FC Barcelona. 

According to a sensational report from SPORT, Real Madrid were on the brink of pulling off a transfer that would have sent shockwaves through the football community.

This move, if it had happened, would have joined the ranks of other high-profile controversial transfers such as those of Luis Figo and Javier Saviola.

Real Madrid were intent on signing Iniesta

In the summer of 2007, Real Madrid were eager to make a statement in the transfer market. The club had set its sights on Iniesta, a player who was not just another footballer, but an idol for the Barcelona fans. 

Iniesta, known for his incredible skill and vision on the field, was a key player for Barcelona, and the thought of him switching sides to their biggest rivals was almost unthinkable. 

However, Real Madrid were ready to make it happen. They had the €60 million needed for Iniesta’s release clause and were prepared to negotiate to ensure the player was happy to move from Camp Nou to Santiago Bernabeu.

The timing of Real Madrid’s interest in Iniesta was particularly significant. At that moment, Iniesta was experiencing a low point in his career at Barcelona. Despite being one of the team’s most talented players, he had one of the lowest salaries. 

Andres Iniesta was a subject of a failed transfer attempt from Real Madrid. (Photo credit should read JOSE JORDAN/AFP via Getty Images)

The club had promised to renew his contract, but no immediate action had been taken. Iniesta’s contract was set to expire in 2010, and he had already spent five seasons with the first team. This period of uncertainty made Iniesta a prime target for Real Madrid.

They were close

Pedrag Mijatovic, who was Real Madrid’s sporting director between 2006 and 2009, later admitted that Iniesta was on their radar. In 2023, Mijatovic revealed that the club was very close to signing Iniesta. 

He explained, “We were close and we took advantage of a moment when he had to renew his contract, and the player could not reach an agreement with Barça.”

The coach of Real Madrid at the time, Bernd Schuster, was a strong advocate for this transfer. He saw Iniesta as a perfect fit for his style of play. 

The idea of having Iniesta, a player renowned for his technical ability and intelligence on the field, in his squad was undoubtedly appealing to Schuster. The coach’s endorsement made the potential transfer even more plausible.

Despite all the plans and preparations, the transfer did not happen. The reasons behind this remain a topic of speculation. 

It could have been a change of heart from Iniesta, a last-minute decision by Barcelona to improve his contract, or perhaps the realization by Real Madrid that such a move would ignite an unprecedented level of animosity between the two clubs and their supporters. 

Whatever the reason, Iniesta stayed with Barcelona and continued to be a crucial part of the team, leading them to numerous victories and becoming a legend in his own right.