You can’t say no to Madrid — Spanish striker Espí

Real Madrid striker Carlos Espí has opened up about the whirlwind transfer that took him from Levante to Real Madrid last summer, revealing how close he came to a move to England before the Spanish giants stepped in.

Speaking on Cadena SER’s El Larguero on Wednesday, the young Spanish striker explained the rapid turn of events that changed the course of his career.

“Premier League clubs were ready to sign me… then Real Madrid appeared and I couldn’t say no,” Espí said. “You can’t reject Real Madrid. The deal was done in 48 hours.”

The 21-year-old (born July 2005 in Tavernes de la Valldigna) had enjoyed a breakout campaign with Levante, scoring crucial goals that helped the club and earning recognition as one of La Liga’s top under-23 performers. Interest from Premier League sides was genuine and advanced, but Real Madrid’s intervention, triggered in part by the departure of Gonzalo García to Fulham and José Mourinho’s specific request for a physical, aerial target man, shut everything else down almost overnight. Madrid paid Espí’s €25 million release clause and signed him to a five-year deal running until June 2031.