David Silva's mentor admits he's still surprised Real Madrid rejected the Manchester City star as a teenager.

It is remarkable that Real Madrid rejected the chance to sign him as a 14-year-old after his mentor, Vicente Miranda, persuaded the Silva family to travel to Madrid and take their talented son for a trial.

The Real manager Vicente del Bosque (now manager of Spain) had been so intrigued that he came down every afternoon to see how the little midfielder from Gran Canaria was progressing. It all seemed to be going to plan.

"He was very young and I knew he had so much potential," Miranda told the Daily Mail. "Everyone was going crazy for him at the Real Madrid trials. He was so excited about the idea of playing for them.

"But they never called."