ARSENE WENGER has lifted the lid on how close Arsenal were to the signing of Barcelona star Lionel Messi.
The 30-year-old was chased by the Gunners in 2003 along with Gerard Pique and Cesc Fabregas, as the North London club scoured Europe for the hottest prospects.
Fabregas ultimately joined Wenger in England, but the FA Cup holders were unable to lure Messi and Pique away from the famed La Masia academy.
The Spanish playmaker became a firm fan favourite at the Emirates – featuring 303 times in all competitions as well as being made captain in 2008.
But things could have been different had he not made the move from Spain on his own.
Speaking to the Arsenal website, Wenger said: “The story of Cesc Fabregas is that Franny Cagiago and Steve Rowley brought the player here and we had to convince him.
“I met Cesc’s parents and at the time we were interested in Messi and Pique as well. We tried for the three but of course it didn’t work out, but we got a gem there in Cesc and he is an exceptional player. A brain for football.
“[It didn’t work out with Messi and Pique] because of the agents. I think it was linked with Nike at the time and they wanted Pique to go to Man United.
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“With Messi, Barcelona didn’t want to lose him of course and they made [the offer] that was needed to keep the player at the club.
“I don’t really know if Messi was interested… I couldn’t get close to try to force the deal because Barcelona stopped that possibility very early.”
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Pique made the move to the Red Devils in 2004, before eventually returning to the Nou Camp in 2008.
While Messi has cemented himself as arguably the greatest footballer of all time, winning five Ballon d’Or awards as well as four Champions League titles.
The Argentinian maestro could have been playing with Cristiano Ronaldo at Arsenal, with Wenger revealing the club failed to pay his £12million asking price in 2003.
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