“I was a boyhood Arsenal fan and I want to end my career there but only on ONE Condition…They must sell that particular player, I can’t with him”: Lionel Messi names ONE Arsenal’s player who need to be sold before he join the club
Lionel Messi’s former agent has said the superstar was tempted to join Arsenal in 2003 when Arsene Wenger was at the height of his power at the club.
Barcelona FC s Lionel Messi ON His Way to Scoring His sides Opening Goal Lifts The Ball Over Arsenal FC London s Manuel Almunia UEFA Champions League 2nd Leg Load 16 Barcelona v Arsenal FC London 8th March 2011 Copyright imago
Lionel Messi is no longer a Barcelona player and, next season, all signs point to him signing for PSG and Mauricio Pochettino.
How different things could have been had the Argentine been a little more tempted by Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal in 2003, just before they embarked on their historic Invincibles season…
“[Messi] was tempted to go to Arsenal, but he didn’t go,” Messi’s former agent, Fabian Soldini told Spanish outlet Marca. “I remember the day that Cesc (Fabregas) asked to leave.
“I remember the day that Cesc (Fabregas) asked to leave (Barcelona). Messi was also asked to go, but he didn’t want to leave.”
This all fits with what Wenger himself said last year when he spoke about being in negotiations with Messi.
Back in 2003, Arsenal made moves for multiple Barcelona youth players. Cesc Fabregas, Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique were all on the agenda but only Fabregas ended up making the move to North London.
Speaking to beIN SPORTS in September, Arsene Wenger explained that discussions took place about signing Messi, but it just wasn’t possible to convince Barcelona to sell their prize asset.
“We were in discussions with him when we bought [Cesc] Fabregas because Messi played [with him],” Wenger said (via TeamTalk).
“You can realise sometimes what fantastic youth teams you had before when you’re a club like Barcelona. In the same team, Messi, [Gerard] Pique and Fabregas.
Arsenal’s Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas (L) greets Barcelona’s Argentine striker Lionel Messi (R) before their UEFA Champions League round of 16, 1st leg football match against Barcelona at the Emirates Stadium, London, England, on February 16, 2011. AFP PHOTO/ADRIAN DENNIS
“Pique and Fabregas came to England [with Manchester United and Arsenal respectively], Messi stayed in Spain. We were interested in him, but he was untouchable at the time.”
You have to imagine that a large number of clubs tried and failed to make a dent in Barcelona’s resolve to hold onto arguably the greatest player of all time.
In total, Messi scored nine goals, with two assists, in six games against Arsenal
