EXCLUSIVE
I am a Liverpool legend who turned down Real Madrid move to protect my Anfield legacy
When the call comes from Real Madrid, it takes special willpower to turn them down.
But that is exactly what John Barnes did despite having an offer on the table, as he did not want to besmirch his Liverpool legacy.
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Barnes is often cited as one of England's greatest ever players and is a fan's favourite at Anfield, where he made 403 appearances over ten years from 1987 to 1997.
After his best campaign at Liverpool where he scored 28 goals in all competitions, John Toshack was keen to take Barnes from Merseyside to Madrid.
Toshack, a Liverpool legend himself and European champion with the Reds over eight years of play, was in charge of Real Madrid from 1989-90, winning LaLiga in his first season and viewed Barnes as the perfect player to bolster his attack.
But Barnes told talkSPORT why a deal never materialised as he did not want to hand in a transfer request.
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He said on talkSPORT Drive to Andy Goldstein and Jason Cundy: "John Toshack was the manager at the time, it was probably his last year [at Real Madrid].
"Of course, managers weren't allowed to talk to players.
"I don't know how I spoke to him, but whatever...
"He said, 'Would you like to come to Real Madrid?' I said, 'I am happy at Liverpool but if you have a bid accepted, then we will talk'.
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"Having played for Liverpool for so long and being a Liverpool hero, he wanted me to go and ask for a transfer, because of course it would look bad on him because he is a Liverpool legend.
"So it is a little bit like he wanted me to say I wanted to leave but of course, I wanted him to make a bid and then I'll talk.
See inside Jurgen Klopp's leaving party as beloved Liverpool legend dances on stage as John Barnes sings Anfield Rap
"That is the reason it didn't happen because I didn't want to transfer. Listen, the Scousers know I'd never leave ya! I love ya!"
While Barnes would turn down a move to Real Madrid, he instead forged an incredible career at Liverpool where he played for another seven years.
However, he could never replicate his goalscoring antics from that season, with his best campaign since being a 17-goal plunder in 1990/91.
However, his trophy cabinet glistened during his time at Liverpool where he won two First Division trophies in 1988 and 1990, as well as two FA Cups in 1989 and 1992 and the League Cup in 1995.
As well as having a keen eye for goal, it was his blistering pace and silky skills that left defenders for dead and got supporters out of their seats.
Liverpool fans were not the only ones who fell in love with Barnes, as he came up through the system at Watford first where he made 296 appearances and scored 85 times.
And for England, he managed 79 caps where he scored ten times, including a stunning solo effort against Brazil, being voted the country's best-ever left-footed player in 2016.
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