Pele is regarded as one of the consensus best soccer players of all time, in a category with the likes of Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi. The difference is that we got to see Maradona and Messi play club soccer in Europe. Unfortunately for us, we were never treated to that with Pele.

But not because Pele didn’t have a chance.

Speaking at an event in New York City promoting his forthcoming biographical film, “Pele: Birth of a Legend,” the man who won three World Cup titles said that he sometimes wonders what it would have been like to play in Europe.

“There were many times when I was very close to signing with Real Madrid, and then once more with Napoli in Italy,” the 75-year-old said. Those weren’t the only two clubs, though. Juventus and Manchester United were also among those to try and pry Pele out of Brazil, but they all failed.

“It’s not a regret,” he said. “I was at Santos, and at the time they were a powerhouse.”

Pele also took some time to talk about the current state of soccer. Asked who was better between Messi and Maradona, Pele said that question is a red-herring for a deeper problem in soccer today.

“Right now we have Messi and Ronaldo at the top, but tell me three or four more names? You can’t,” he said. “We need more players challenging those two, because in this moment we don’t have any.”

If only a guy like Pele was still around.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=953rOfQ8Y0w