Real Madrid have consistently attracted the world’s best footballers, embodying the glitz and glamour associated with elite stars.
Although the Merengues’ status as a European powerhouse has enabled them to attract most players they pursue, not every footballer is eager to crown their career with a move to the Spanish capital.
Examples include Francesco Totti, Gianluigi Buffon, and Peter Cech, all of whom prioritized loyalty above prestige.
Lionel Messi never entertained Real Madrid’s interest
Similarly, Real Madrid failed to get their hands on one of football’s greatest talents, Lionel Messi.
The club’s interest in the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner when he was a young player yet to touch his peak at Barcelona has been well covered in the past and now, one of his former associates has reaffirmed the same.
As per Lionel Messi’s first-ever agent Horacio Gaggioli, “Real Madrid were interested in him when he was young, he was 16 or 17 years old, but Leo never wanted to leave Barcelona.”
Real Madrid quickly recognized the incredible progress Messi had made as a teenager at Barcelona and sought to orchestrate a move reminiscent of the Luis Figo transfer, where the player would join their fiercest rivals.
However, Messi had no desire to leave Barcelona, the club where he had grown and developed both as a player and a person.
It must be noted that Real Madrid not only stood at a disadvantage due to their age-old rivalry with Barcelona, but also because the Argentine legend was always loyal to his roots.
Gaggioli went on to add that Arsenal also showed interest, but he kept the same stance with the North London side.
Either way, it is fascinating to ponder upon how different the landscape of football would have looked like, had Messi decided to conquer the sport in the royal white jersey.
Source: MARCA