Former Barcelona defender reveals he rejected Real Madrid despite Capello’s pursuit: ‘They wanted me to join them’

Former Barcelona defender reveals he rejected Real Madrid despite Capello’s pursuit: ‘They wanted me to join them’ Former Barcelona defender Gianluca Zambrotta has revealed that he had the opportunity to join Real Madrid in 2006 but ultimately decided to move to Camp Nou instead, despite strong interest from Fabio Capello. The comments from the Italian shed new light on one of the more intriguing transfer stories of that era, with Gianluca Zambrotta’s move to Barcelona becoming a reality even though Fabio Capello and Real Madrid had hoped to bring the experienced full-back to the Santiago Bernabéu. At the time, Zambrotta was still part of a dominant Juventus side before the club was relegated following the infamous Calciopoli scandal, which forced several players to consider their futures. Capello wanted Zambrotta at Real Madrid The former Italy international has now confirmed that a move to Madrid was a genuine possibility. Speaking in an interview with AS , Zambrotta has admitted that Fabio Capello wanted him at Real Madrid, alongside other Juventus stars who eventually made the switch to Spain. Gianluca Zambrotta rejected Real Madrid for Barcelona. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) “Yes. Fabio Capello – as well as Cannavaro and Emerson – wanted me to join him in Madrid. I chose Barça.” Zambrotta also opened up on why he chose Barcelona over Real Madrid, revealing that the sporting opportunities available at Camp Nou proved decisive. “The reason? Apart from being a top international club that had just won the Champions League… I don’t know, it gave me the chance to play in competitions I’d never played in before, such as the European Super Cup or the Club World Cup.  “I was 29. Those were my last chances,” he stated. What happened at Real Madrid that summer? The summer of 2006 remains one of the busiest periods in modern Real Madrid transfer history. Capello oversaw an extensive recruitment drive, with several high-profile names arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu. Zambrotta won just one title with Barcelona. (Photo by Bagu Blanco/Getty Images). Players such as Fabio Cannavaro, Emerson, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Gonzalo Higuain, Fernando Gago, Marcelo and Mahamadou Diarra all strengthened the squad. Amid that rebuilding process, Gianluca Zambrotta rejected Real Madrid, opting instead to complete his Barcelona transfer. At the time, Barcelona were reigning Champions League winners. However, despite arriving with high expectations, the Italian defender’s spell in Catalonia did not unfold as anticipated. Over two seasons at Barcelona, Zambrotta managed to win just one trophy, while Real Madrid enjoyed considerable domestic success by claiming consecutive La Liga titles.