REAL MADRID supremo Florentino Perez was about to seal a £30million move for floppy-haired, fresh-faced David Silva back in 2010 while the Spaniard was at Valencia.
But the move was sensationally scrapped by Los Blancos amid concerns of the player’s alleged ‘drinking and partying’.
According to The Athletic, Perez went as far as telling a Madrid delegate to grab the then 24-year-old’s suitcase after a match against Silva’s Valencia, telling them: “Take the suitcase to the locker room, because next year David will be with us.”
Having then had his picture taken with Perez’s nephews, Silva became more and more open to making the switch to the Bernabeu.
But after Madrid’s character study of the Spanish ace, they reportedly decided he did not behave with the ‘required dignity’ to be a star at the Bernabeu.
The revelation has baffled fans across the globe, with Silva the model pro during his ten-year stint at Man City – who were able to pinch him from Valencia with Madrid’s apparent blessing.
Silva made over 400 appearances at the Etihad and is widely acknowledged as one of the club’s greatest-ever players – having won four Premier League titles.
Shortly before his departure, former team-mate Kevin De Bruyne lavished praise on Silva, saying: “Everybody has great respect for him and everybody showed that.”
The Belgian was one of those in City’s ranks that voted for Silva to have the honour of becoming their new captain and was clearly delighted when he was formally appointed by Guardiola.
De Bruyne added: “David is very low key but when he speaks everybody listens.
“I think everybody has his own type of leadership and I think he is somebody who tries to control it in the game and maybe do it in a more silent way.”
Silva left City after a decade of service to return to LaLiga with Real Sociedad
He turned down a lucrative move to Qatar as well as a chance to have a crack at Serie A with Lazio.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
