Pelé, the greatest Brazilian player of all time, could have played in the Mexican league. This is how José Ramón Fernández, a journalist from the ESPN network, recalled it, who shared a fragment of an interview he conducted with “O Rei.”
The three-time world champion differentiated himself from other great stars by having spent most of his career at Santos, the club where he trained. However, while he was shining in Brazil, other teams wanted to sign him. In the words of the King, Club América was one of them.
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Pelé confessed that America came looking for him
“Pelé was priceless, nor is he priceless. It is difficult to make a comparison. Now, speaking seriously, I declare that I had proposals to go to Real Madrid, Milan, Inter. (Even) for America from Mexico. When Ney Blanco came here I was also invited to come. America also had (interest),” the Brazilian legend recalled in dialogue with the Mexican journalist.
Ahora que se acerca la noche de brujas… les cuento una historia de TERROR:
El #America @ClubAmerica intentó contratar a Pelé! Pero el Extraordinario futbolista no aceptó, afortunadamente. QUÉ SUSTO!! pic.twitter.com/St3VCZATdJ— José Ramón Fernández (@joserra_espn) October 23, 2023
According to what Pelé said, the Eagles tried to sign him at the beginning of the 1960s. At that time, the Brazilian had already become world champion in Sweden 1958. At just 17 years old, the native of Três Corações dazzled the world to contribute in the conquest of his country. However, his position was to remain linked to his love club. He didn’t need to go to Europe to leave a legacy.
Well, his history with the Seleção was brilliant. Four years after the conquest in Sweden, he touched the sky again with his hands in Chile 1962. He lifted the World Cup for the third time in Mexico 1970, in front of a packed Azteca Stadium.
Curiously, Pelé played in North America in the final stretch of his career, but he did so for the New York Cosmos of the United States.
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