Former Real Madrid midfielder reveals Barcelona tried to sign him for La Masia: ‘I was absolutely delighted’

Former Real Madrid midfielder reveals Barcelona tried to sign him for La Masia: ‘I was absolutely delighted’ Former Real Madrid midfielder Sergio Canales has revealed that Barcelona tried to bring him to La Masia during his childhood, long before he eventually joined their arch-rivals in 2010. The Racing Santander star discussed the experience during an interview with El Larguero , recalling how Barça approached him after a youth tournament.  Although the opportunity excited him, a decision involving his family ultimately prevented him from making the move to Catalonia. Canales recalls Barcelona’s La Masia approach Canales explained that Barcelona’s interest began after a tournament in Brunete, when he was around 10 or 11 years old.  The midfielder subsequently visited La Masia several times and was impressed by the experience, particularly after meeting one of his footballing idols. Recalling his introduction to the club, Canales said, “I went to La Masía several times.  Sergio Canales signed for Real Madrid in 2010. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) “It all started after a tournament in Brunete, when I was about ten or eleven, and from then on Barça offered me the opportunity. “It’s not that I wasn’t sure about it, but the first time I was still very young. And even so, I was absolutely delighted, because they introduced me to Riquelme, who was my idol, so it was a brilliant experience. “But my parents spoke to me, and in the end we decided to stay so as not to uproot the whole family.  “And being so young, no one could assure me that taking that step would guarantee I’d become a professional,” he remembered. The decision was therefore influenced by family circumstances and the uncertainty surrounding a potential move at such a young age, rather than a lack of enthusiasm for Barcelona. Why Canales eventually chose Real Madrid Sergio Canales had a trial with La Masia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images) Canales eventually signed for Real Madrid in 2010, taking a different route towards establishing himself in senior football.  He also explained that his original plan involved spending time on loan to gain experience before making a sustained impact at the highest level. Reflecting on that decision, he said, “My plan was to sign for Madrid and then go out on loan for a few years to gain more experience. “But I learnt a lot . I don’t regret a thing, and by the end of that year it really opened my eyes to what it means to be a top-flight player.  “It gave me a lot of strength to keep going despite the injuries I’ve had,” he concluded.