Arsenal were close to signing then Real Madrid youngster Jose Rodriguez four years ago, until he made an 11th hour decision to stay at the Bernabeu.
The London club wanted to bring the then 16-year-old to the Emirates in 2011 after manager Arsene Wenger being made a keen admirer of the midfielder while playing for Real’s academy side.
His parent club flew him over to England so the Spaniard could complete the paperwork on a move to the Gunners, and the deal was ‘all but finalised’ until a change of heart at the last minute saw him stay at the Spanish giants.
The Spain U21 international, now 20, failed to make the cut in the Spanish capital and joined Turkish side Galatasaray earlier in the summer transfer window after making just four first-team appearances for The Whites.
The former Deportivo La Coruna loan star does not regret the decision to reject Arsenal, but does believe that he could be a regular there now.
On the transfer in an interview with Goal, Rodriguez said: “I was in London, just about to sign with Arsenal.
“But then, Real Madrid put faith in me, and I think things haven’t gone bad for me since then.
“I made my debut with the first team, and I’m the youngest player in the Champions League [Rodriguez is Madrid’s youngest debutant in the European competition after replacing Kaka as substitute against Ajax in 2012].
“The past is past. Maybe if I had chosen Arsenal, now I’d be playing there… or maybe not.
“I never thought about leaving Real Madrid until right now, because I was always happy. Now they haven’t put their faith in me, and that’s okay. They kept a re-buy option, and there’s hope.” he added.
By Drew Darbyshire (@DarbySports)
