Luis Suarez admits he was close to Real Madrid before joining Barcelona, but one incident changed his career

Suarez went on to form the famous 'MSN' trio with Messi and Neymar at the Camp Nou

Luis Suarez, the Uruguayan forward whose name is etched in the annals of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid for his goal-scoring prowess and competitive spirit, recently revealed a chapter of his career that almost saw him donning the white of Real Madrid instead of the blaugrana of Barcelona.

In a candid interview with 'La Mesa', Suarez shared insights into the summer of 2014, a pivotal moment in his career trajectory that could have altered the landscape of European football.

According to Suarez, Real Madrid had shown significant interest in acquiring him before the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The plan was seemingly set: Karim Benzema was on the verge of moving to Arsenal, and Suarez was poised to become Madrid's next big signing.

«My agent spoke with Real Madrid, and everything was on the right track,» Suarez recounted, shedding light on a transfer saga that had remained largely under wraps until now.

«They were thinking about selling Benzema to Arsenal, everything was already done.»

However, as the World Cup unfolded, an incident that would become one of the most talked-about moments of Suarez's career — the biting episode — changed the course of his future.

Real Madrid's interest waned in the wake of the controversy, while Barcelona, undeterred, stepped up their pursuit. For Suarez, the choice became clear.

«When the World Cup started, Barcelona came into the race, and obviously I preferred Barcelona,» he said.

«With the situation of the bite, Madrid lost interest, and Barcelona became more interested. In the end I had both options and I chose the Barcelona because it was my dream.»

The allure of playing alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar, and