Fernando Morientes admits that Real Madrid were willing to offload him to Barcelona for a huge transfer fee years ago.

The striker, who currently plays for Marseille, recounted a bizarre time in his career when Real were willing to sell him to their bitter league rivals.

Morientes wanted to remain with Los Blancos, despite growing up a Barca fan, as Real were at the height of their powers and the reigning Champions League title holders.

"On the eve of the European Super Cup Final [in 2002] which we won against Feyenoord, they decided to sell me. On the eve of a European final!" he told AS.

"The truth is that it was a very unpleasant experience for me."

"Madrid wanted to sign Ronaldo and they wanted me included in the operation that would see Inter sign me and then I would end up with Barcelona."

"I know that Madrid did not want me and [Joan] Gaspart, the Barca president then, was willing to pay €24million and to Madrid that was clearly a fortune."

"In the end, though, things did not happen and I stayed, which is what I wanted anyway."