Valencia and Spain hero Vicente Guillot has revealed that he expected former Manchester United star George Best to join Real Madrid.
Guillot, who helped Valencia achieve domestic and European success in the 1960s, has spoken about the former United legend and how he was viewed by Spanish players at the time.
Speaking in an interview with Tribalfootball.com, Best was a “regular topic of conversation within La Liga dressing rooms”, according to Guillot.
And with a third of United’s holy trinity igniting European football at the time, Guillot says Best was closely watched even in Spain.
Real Madrid dominated both Spanish and European football at a time when Guillot and Best dazzled with their offensive exploits.
But despite Madrid securing seven La Liga titles in Guillot’s nine seasons with rival Valencia, the diminutive winger helped “Los Che” win back-to-back Fairs Cup in 1961-62 and 1962-63, as well like the success of the Copa del Rey.
And while Northern Ireland star Best was fast becoming United’s main man and a European superstar, his overseas value was as high as Spaniards looked on in amazement.
Guillot goes on to explain how Matt Busby’s side, and the man nicknamed ‘The Beatle’ in particular, were much admired throughout the Spanish game.
“Yes, without a shadow of a doubt. George Best was undoubtedly admired by the players of my day. He was a ‘greatest’ footballer. He was a winger and an attacking midfielder. I think he played on the right, ”he recalls.
And the former Spain international, now 81, recalls how Best was supposed to trade Manchester red for Madrid white.
“I heard that Real Madrid were after him for a while and were close to signing him. You heard a lot about George Best in those days. So when you hear a lot about a particular player it’s either a) because he’s a very good footballer or b) he’s a very bad person! (Laughter),” Guillot joked.
“There are no middle ground here!” concluded Guillot, who played for Valencia more than 150 times, and whose popularity at that time even spawned a rock known as the ‘Guillotistas’.
George Best, of course, would not only stay at Manchester United, but he would eclipse Guillot’s appearances by playing for the Old Trafford side 470 times, scoring 179 goals.
And it was only last month that the famous Reds number 7 was fondly remembered as ever, as fans marked 17 years since the untimely death of Manchester’s son Georgie Best.
