The entire football world mourns the death of "king" Pelé, one of the greatest and most important players in the history of this sport. His legacy is incalculable and incredible, and after his death many remember his multiple awards and recognitions. But why did he never sign for Real Madrid?

Real Madrid wanted him. Santiago Bernabéu tried to sign him on several occasions, but his wishes and efforts never came to fruition. The man who achieved all, was not able to convince Pelé to put on the white shirt. The legendary president wanted to sign him in 1959, in 1961 and in 1963, but the Rio de Janeiro star never wanted to leave his land.

"It would have been incredible to play for Real Madrid, although I don't regret my career at Santos. I had my reasons: in a few words, I loved the rice and beans that my mother made, I felt comfortable and happy in my country. My mom and dad lived a few meters from our house, the temperature was always 25 degrees and the beach was great. There I had everything I needed and wanted", this is how he explains his decision in the book Pelé: because football matters.

The first rapprochement was in 1959 at the Hotel Alexandra on Calle San Bernardo after a friendly between Real Madrid and Santos in chamartin. The Brazilian star was only 19 years old, but he shone in front of the Real Madrid fans, drawing the attention of the mythical white president, who saw him as the heir to Alfredo Di Stéfano, But the operation did not materialize, as the president believed that Pelé was not yet mature enough for this move.

In 1961, after losing for the first time in the European Cup, it was the second attempt, but it was not possible either. Finally, in 1963, Bernabéu tried to convince him to be the leader of the team, but Pelé always put Santos first.

"Deep down, what he wanted was to live in his country, with his family, in his environment, and you can understand it, because at Real Madrid he would have been very big, but he didn't want to leave his land," Bernabéu explained the reason why the legend of the game never played for the best club in the world.