Evergrande's former player and 40-year-old Paraguay striker Barrios recently interviewed with "Marca" and talked about his interest in attracting Real Madrid when he played for Dortmund.
Recalling the time for Dortmund
"It's very beautiful, to be honest, it's really an unforgettable time. I think we did a great job, and I think it's because of this that we can stand with many Dortmund legends today. Winning two consecutive Bundesliga titles is not easy, but we did it. The club also provided us with a lot of support. The reason why that team is remembered is because there are many excellent players in the team, such as Gundogan, Shahin, Hummels and Lewandowski, and many of them performed very well."
What does it feel like to play under Klopp?
"Jurgen is like a father to us, who is very protective of us. We were still young at that time, and with his extensive experience, he tried his best to provide us with the best guidance and support so that we could make the most of the skills we learned, and he won two consecutive Bundesliga titles."
How did he get along with Lewandowski at that time?
"There is a healthy competition between him and me. I was a starter in the first two years, and he was still very young at that time. Later, I was injured in the Copa America, which gave Lewandowski a chance to play continuously. He performed very well in that year, and then I went to China to play football. I am very happy that he is still in such a good state now because he has reached a certain age. In Europe, not everyone can continue to play football and score goals at this age. I am happy not only for Lewandowski, but also for Gundogan, Perisic and other players who are still fighting in high-level games."
Do you regret not staying in Dortmund and missing the 2012-13 Champions League final?
"Yes, I always say the same thing. Every time I play Bayern, I have a chance to score. I really hope to participate in that final. Unfortunately, I had already transferred to China by that time. Lewandowski was very good that season. I had no place in the team. In order to continue to stay in the national team, I need to find more opportunities to play. Of course, going to China is also a good opportunity, but I really want to participate in that final because I believe we have the ability to win that game."
I heard that Real Madrid was interested in you?
"I performed well in the Bundesliga at that time, and was the world's top scorer in 2008. There were a lot of discussions about me, and everyone was speculating on how I would perform in the European arena. I started to score goals in Germany and performed better and better. At that time, Higuain was injured in the waist, and I was one of the strikers Real Madrid was considering introducing. I was very happy with their interest, but in fact I had always focused on Dortmund and went to China. If I hadn't chosen to stay in Dortmund at the time, the situation might have been different."
Have you ever dreamed of playing for Real Madrid?
"Anyone will dream of playing for a team like Real Madrid. I think players all over the world yearn for joining this team. Although I have always been fighting with them as an opponent, I admire this team very much. Real Madrid is one of the greatest teams in the world."
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