Agent Andres Manzano says Real Madrid and Barcelona rejected Jude Bellingham at 16.
Manzano was acting as an advisor to Birmingham City at the time.
He said of the Borussia Dortmund's 150m-rated star: "I offered Bellingham to Barcelona and Real Madrid, but they ignored me.
"Both had the chance, but neither club dared to bet on him, and after only a few seasons it has been shown that they were wrong."
Bellingham is now wanted by Real Madrid, though Liverpool and Chelsea are also keen.
Manzano also told AS: "He was completely different and immediately reminded me of (Zinedine) Zidane."
