Real Madrid is historically known for signing so many brilliant players in its rich, fabled history.
Real has, in a way, toned down as of late, although they still keep looking for market opportunities to sign big players.
There are a few players, though, who did not actually join but were reportedly considering or were close to, for one reason or another.
Here are five of the best players that Real Madrid almost signed - or could have signed - but didn't, or couldn't.
The 5 best players Real Madrid almost signed (but didn't)
Gianluigi Buffon
One of the very best goalkeepers in the history of the game - Buffon was actually, at two seperate points, close to joining Real Madrid. Once in 2001, and another time in 2006.
Real Madrid were one of the many clubs interested in signing Buffon when he was leaving Parma the first time. He went to Juventus on a world-record fee for a goalkeeper at the time, costing 52 million euros.
Real Madrid had the money to pay, but had also just seen a young Iker Casillas trying to blossom into a good, young goalkeeper. They enquired, but chose not to pay up that huge fee at the time.
If they had signed Buffon at the time, Casillas would not have won them the Champions League at just 19 years of age in 2002, and who knows, maybe we wouldn't have seen him become an all-time great.
Things were a bit different in 2006 - Buffon was one of the few players who actually considered leaving Juventus after the Calciopoli scandal, but by then, Casillas was already one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Real Madrid reportedly were in advanced talks with him, but did not proceed with the signing. It is one of the biggest what-ifs in football.
Neymar Jr
This is one of the most well-known transfer plots known to mankind, and it easily makes its way here on this list.
Neymar Jr trained for Real Madrid's Infantil A team once, and everything looked set for the player to join. According to Spanish media, however, the deal fell through due to logistical or administrative reasons around the fee to Santos and having to invest so much in a 13-year-old. The deal fell through, and Neymar Jr ended up staying at Santos.
Then, when every club in the world was on their knees to sign him in 2013, Real Madrid proposed a stronger financial offer than basically anyone in Europe - a fact confirmed by Neymar and his father later on - but the player rejected it because he wanted to play alongisde Lionel Messi at Barcelona.
Perez has openly admitted Neymar was one of those players who just got away, and partly because of that, he has invested in many young players.
Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski was a huge superstar back in 2013. He was one of the best, most talented strikers in world football. He has since scored an ungodly amount of goals, but a deal was never struck between the current Barcelona man and Real Madrid.
Before joining Bayern Munich in 2013, Lewandowski was offered a pre-contract agreement by Real Madrid. However, he had to reject it out of kindness to Bayern, saying that he had already agreed to a move.
Since then, there have been multiple reports about Lewandowski wanting to join Real Madrid. He wanted to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, but a move never really happened due to Karim Benzema being such a brilliant striker alongside the Portuguese.
Francesco Totti
One of the best Italian players of all time, Totti was a one-club man. He was at AS Roma for the entirety of his career, but the only club he even considered leaving Roma for was Real Madrid.
He obviously never ended up joining, but Totti has admitted in the past that Real Madrid were the only club he ever would consider leaving Roma for. And that's the one thing that he regrets
He said:, after playing at the Bernabeu for Roma in 2016: "The emotion was huge, a wonderful memory for me. This is an incredible stadium. [Not signing for] Real Madrid is my only regret."
Everyone knew Real Madrid wanted Totti. Everyone knew Totti admired Real Madrid, and yet, due to his unwavering loyalty for Roma, a move never took place.
Steven Gerrard
Gerrard is another one of those brilliant players that Real Madrid wanted to sign back in the day, but were never able to because of one reason or another.
Real Madrid wanted to sign Gerrard on two seperate occasions - as is the trend with most players on this list. Legend Zinedine Zidane even admitted in the past that he asked the club to sign him, and the club tried twice, but had to let go of the thought of seeing Gerrard join the club due to his loyalty to Liverpool.
“I have said in the past that at his peak he was the best in the world," said Zidane.
“I think it was the summer of 2004 I was having a conversation with Florentino (Perez) and I told him I wanted him to partner me in midfield for Madrid.
“I know the club tried twice but he wouldn’t leave Liverpool. Not many players turn down Real Madrid but I think that tells you a lot about the loyalty of the man."
The club tried to sign him once in 2005, when Gerrard was the closest to considering a move to Real Madrid. They were advancing on personal terms, too, but Gerrard chose to stay at the last minute.
They also tried to sign him in 2009, but that was the easier decision for the Englishman due to the bond with the fans at his club.