Let's go back to the year 2008 and remember when Barcelona came mighty close to signing current Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.
Ahead of the 08/09 season, Pep Guardiola had just taken over as manager and one of his first requests to the board was a new forward.
Karim Benzema, who played for Lyon at the time, was one of those transfer targets
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In fact, Benzema was the main transfer target. He had an impressive goalscoring record at the French club, so Barca were keen on bringing him on board.
The Catalan giants did have Samuel Eto'o at the time, but Guardiola decided that the Cameroonian forward wasn't cut out for the role.
Barcelona's technical secretary at the time, Txiki Begisristain, was in charge of negotiations and went to visit the player's house in Lyon to try and convince him of a move.
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That meeting, however, didn't exactly go as he originally planned.
It is being reported by Spanish publication MARCA that Begisristain wasn't convinced by the mannerisms of the French forward, mentioning that Benzema wouldn't make eye contact with him when talking.
Txiki also mentioned that he didn't warm to those around Benzema at the time.
It was decided that the club wouldn't sign the striker 'as there was a risk he would become problematic and his adaptation would not be easy.'
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Barcelona would go on to sign David Villa in 2010, while Benzema would eventually move to rivals Real Madrid in a deal worth a reported £35.8 million.
How different things could have been if Benzema had made eye contact with Begisristain on that day in 2008...
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football News, Football, Pep Guardiola, Barcelona, Ligue 1, Transfers, Karim Benzema, Lyon, Real Madrid, La Liga
