Real Madrid technical secretary Miguel Angel Portugal has revealed
how the Spanish giants missed out on three of the game's brightest
talents.
Portugal admits Barcelona duo Lionel Messi and Giovani Dos Santos,
plus Manchester United ace Cristiano Ronaldo, were all within
Real's sights but were allowed to slip away.
Portugal, who returned to the Bernabeu this summer following a
stint in charge of Racing Santander, was involved in the youth
set-up at Real before leaving the club in 1999, and he recalls how
the club's emphasis was then on signing big-name stars as opposed
to investing in up-and-coming talent.
"It was the time of the 'Galacticos', when these players were more
important than developing the young ones," Portugal told Radio
Marca.
"When Giovani was 14 years old, we had the chance to sign him. The
same with Messi," he added.
"I could have also had Cristiano Ronaldo. It was a shame, but
during that era the youth set-up did not have the money for signing
players."
