New Delhi: Real Madrid saw Andres Iniesta leave their youth academy when he was a youngster to join Barcelona because his parents did not like where the club put the trainees.
The revelation has come to light in Sport as the creative midfielder continues to win plaudits for his impressive performances in the past few seasons for the Blaugrana.
At the age of 12, Iniesta impressed several clubs at a junior tournament in Brunete, where he appeared for his local side Albacete, and looked destined to move on.
His parents wanted him to join Real Madrid and they took up Los Merengues' offer and saw their son take his first steps on what they thought would a road to the Bernabéu.
Instead, the Spanish giants' home for their young starlets was close to a red light district patrolled by local prostitutes and the Iniesta family were not impressed.
Barca youth team coach Enrique Orizaola knew the parents and was able to persuade them that their boy would be better off at Barca, where he would live in La Masia.
It took just one visit to Camp Nou for Iniesta's parents to see what was on offer and to agree to the switch, which they are probably not regretting.
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