Thursday, 22nd March, 2012
Former winger Finidi George has revealed that some of the very biggest clubs in world football wanted to snap him up before he joined Real Betis from Ajax in 1996.
The speedy Nigerian had made a name for himself with the Amsterdam giants and helped Ajax to win the 1995 Champions League before once again starring as the team reached the final just one year after.
George was in demand, though it was something of a surprise when he did not join a top rank side, but instead inked a deal to move to La Liga outfit Real Betis.
The Nigerian admits that his career could have taken a very different turn, with Manchester United and Real Madrid both keen on snapping him up and the former coming extremely close to doing so.
"Many of the big European clubs like Real Madrid and Manchester United were interested in me", George told SuperSport.
"But it was Real Madrid that I almost joined", he added.
"My agent even reached a verbal agreement with Real Madrid, but things broke down at the last minute.
"So I signed for Betis."
George spent four years with the Seville-based side before joining Real Mallorca. From there it was on to English team Ipswich Town before he ended his career back at Mallorca in 2004.
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