New Flamengo signing David Luiz was wanted by Real Madrid after being released by Arsenal this summer.
Globo Esporte says Real coach Carlo Ancelotti called Luiz, who would have been available for nothing after his Arsenal contract ran down.
The pair previously worked together at Chelsea during the second half of the 2010-11 campaign after the Brazilian signed from Benfica for £21.3million in the January window.
However, Ancelotti's attempts to recruit the 34-year-old failed because Real had already fulfilled their quota of non-EU players in the squad.
Luiz's Brazilian compatriots Eder Militao, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo effectively put paid to his move to the Spanish capital.
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