Roberto Firmino has revealed that he rejected the opportunity to sign for Real Madrid on several occasions after leaving Liverpool because “a lot of factors” weren’t right.The Brazilian forward made 362 appearances for the Reds over an eight-year period before departing Anfield when his contract expired at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.After leaving Merseyside, the 34-year-old signed for Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ahli, where he won the AFC Champions League before moving to Qatar earlier this year.But Firmino has revealed that he has had the opportunity to sign for Real, who he faced in the 2018 and 2022 Champions League finals, twice since leaving Anfield.View this post on InstagramA post shared by TNT Sports Brasil (@tntsportsbr)“There was, of course [interest from Real],” he told TNT Sports Brasil. “To be honest, there was interest.“My agency told me about it. And yes, it was recent, again, recently, but not like before, you know, when there was that offer to go to Arabia.“Back then, there was real interest from Madrid. But there were a lot of factors.“I wasn’t the first or even the second option, so I would have had to wait quite a bit. Not that I’m impatient, but I had to wait, you know?“Then the offer from Al-Ahli came, and I had to pray and think if that was really the right thing.“So, that’s how it happened – I went to Arabia, and I believe the purpose was fulfilled there. I think that’s what was meant to happen.“Of course, Real Madrid is a massive club. It would have been a great honour and pleasure to play for Real Madrid.”After failing to secure Firmino ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, Real Madrid struck a deal with Espanyol to sign former Newcastle and Stoke veteran Joselu on a season-long loan.The Spaniard scored 17 goals over the course of that season, including a late double to down Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final second leg at the Bernabeu.But just weeks after the Spaniards won the Champions League final against Dortmund, Joselu departed the club to sign for Qatar Stars League outfit Al-Gharafa.Then at the end of the 2024/25 season, with Madrid seemingly in need of a third-choice forward to fill the void left by Joselu’s exit almost a year earlier, Madrid came calling for Firmino again.The Liverpool legend instead decided to stay in the Middle East and signed for Al Sadd, for whom he has scored four goals in 10 games since July.If things had panned out differently, Firmino could have been part of the squad facing his former club at Anfield this season.