Valencia midfielder Hedwiges Maduro told Ibrahim Afellay to choose Barcelona ahead of any offer from Real Madrid.
Afellay is moving to Barca in January from PSV Eindhoven.
Fellow Dutchman Maduro revealed: "I spoke with him by phone. He asked me which clubs were good for him and I said Barcelona and Valencia.
"I also told him he would fit in better at Barcelona than Real Madrid."
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