Cruyff refused a contract with Real Madrid

In an interview with the Spanish magazine Esquire Johan Cruyff says something very remarkable: in 1973 he refused to sign a contract with Real Madrid. Without contacting Cruyff, his club Ajax already made a deal with Madrid.

Fed up with the way Ajax treated him the Dutch legend decided to sign with Barcelona. “I didn’t knew Ajax sold me to Real Madrid. That’s why I decided not to go to Madrid. I don’t like it when things are decided behind my back,“ Cruyff said in an interview with Esquire that will be published next month.

Thirteen years after ending his career as a manager at Barcelona the Dutchman still advices the club and, therefore, Barca’s manager Josep Guardiola.

“He’s a very intelligent guy and obsessed with details. He achieves what he wants but in the future he needs to take more distance form details and analysis. Otherwise he will get sick of it.“