How a Champions League controversy led Harvey Elliott to reject Real Madrid

Valencia attacker Harvey Elliott is set to face Real Madrid this Saturday, years after turning down a move to the Spanish giants due to a controversial Champions League incident, according to a report by Madrid Universal.

​Following his record-breaking Premier League debut with Fulham in 2019 at age 16, Elliott was invited for a tour of Real Madrid’s facilities.

However, the club’s offer to meet then-captain Sergio Ramos backfired, as Elliott was unhappy with Ramos’s tackle on Mohamed Salah during the 2018 Champions League final in Kyiv.​

Having attended that match as a fan, the young Englishman refused to meet Ramos and ultimately opted to join Liverpool instead.

​Now 23 and playing for Valencia following a difficult spell at Aston Villa, Elliott has struggled for playing time in Spain, managing just 152 minutes across six La Liga appearances without a single start.