Thiago Silva: I Rejected Barcelona Twice

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Brazilian reveals he turned down Catalonia for Paris.Paris Saint Germain defender Thiago Silva has revealed that he snubbed Spanish giants Barcelona twice before deciding to head to France, but he admits he is happy with his choice, Sky Sports reports.

The Brazilian stopper was given the choice of plying his trade in either Barcelona or Paris in 2012 when then club AC Milan decided to listen to big money offers for their star.

He has made no secret of his desire to step out in front of the Nou Camp crowd on a regular basis, but he has sensationally claimed to have turned down the club’s advances on two separate occasions.

Having openly admitted that the money PSG were prepared to offer him played a key role in his decision to snub the Spanish champions, but he insists that he is happy with his decision to move to Ligue 1.

“It was a difficult decision to say no twice to Barcelona. It was never a secret that I have admired them since I was a kid and that I always wished I could play for Barcelona,” he said.

“But life is made of hard decisions that sometimes go against what you dream of.

“I heard people saying I was just thinking of the money, but they forget we have families to feed. Why would I accept to earn less money to play for Barcelona? Why are players the ones supposed to sacrifice themselves?

“Besides, PSG offered me also an opportunity for a new challenge and the club are trailing the right path.”

Silva is now a major part of the ambitious project being undertaken at the club, which saw the likes of Edinson Cavani and Marquinhos sign up to this summer, but the Samba star has admitted that there was one signing he was particularly keen to see pull on a PSG shirt.

On a certain Manchester United striker, who netted for England in a 2-2 draw with Brazil back in June, Silva said: “Wayne Rooney would have been great to play with.

“He is one of the best strikers in the world and this is also a guy who has scored against me every time I’ve played him. That goal at the Maracana still irks me.”

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