Al-Hilal’s summer-signing Yassine Bounou has confirmed he rejected Real Madrid before making the move to Saudi Arabia.
Bounou had completed a sensational move to Al-Hilal from Sevilla for a reported fee in the region of £18 million on a three-year contract.
The Moroccan was heavily linked with a move to Bayern Munich but it was Al-Hilal who beat the German champions for his signature.
Just two weeks after joining Al-Hilal, the 32-year-old has now revealed that Real Madrid were also one of the interested clubs but a transfer to Spain never fully materialised.
Reports had linked Bounou with Real Madrid following the long-term ACL injury of first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois but Los Blancos had other ideas in mind.
The record European champions opted to recruit Spanish shot-stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga on a one-year loan deal from Chelsea instead.
“I was told initially that I was their [Real Madrid’s] first option,” Bounou told Canal Sur. “But after analysing the situation, I realised I would miss many games with Morocco because of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
“In addition, Real Madrid had other candidates lined up. But from Bayern, they asked me to wait and they told me they were going to make an offer.
“But at the same time, they were sounding out other names. And of course, I understood that clubs don’t want to spend so much money. It’s hard for them to spend it on 32-year-olds like me,” he added.
Bounou has had a flying start in Al-Hilal colours after contributing to their incredible 4-3 comeback victory against arch-rivals Al-Ittihad in the Saudi El Clasico.