Transfer history: Aimar (Zaragoza)

Presumed Barcelona insider Diego Valor writes on his blog this week that Argentinian playmaker Pablo Aimar (28), then playing for Valencia, was close to joining Barcelona in the summer of 2003. Both sports director Txiki Begiristain and newly elect president Joan Laporta (following the advice of Barcelona legend Johan Cruijff) preferred Aimar over Ronaldinho to become the central figure of the new squad. In the end vice president Sandro Rosell won the discussion and Ronaldinho came to Barcelona.

In the summer of 2006, Pablo Aimar left Valencia for 12 million euro and signed with Zaragoza.