Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that the club were close to signing four-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi from Barcelona back in 2003.
The Argentina international, who is widely regarded as one of the world's best footballers due to his glittering career at Barcelona, recently cast doubt over his future at Camp Nou.
Reports have claimed that Messi considered moving to Arsenal earlier this year, but Wenger has recalled a situation back in 2003 when he tried to sign the prolific star as a 16-year-old from Barcelona's academy.
"It was just that in the he was not so keen to move," Wenger told reporters. "It was that period that [Cesc] Fabregas came. They played in the same team.
"We wanted to get Fabregas, Messi and [Gerard] Pique. It worked only for Fabregas. In the end Messi was comfortable at Barcelona."
Meanwhile, Arsenal are preparing to go head to head with Manchester United at the Emirates in the Premier League tomorrow.
Danielle Joynson
