Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi almost joined Espanyol in 2005. Pochettino was at the twilight of his career at Espanyol when he first heard about Messi.
He said, “I started to hear about him when I was a player at Espanyol. A small guy, playing in the academy in Barcelona. Then I heard he was so close to signing for Espanyol – very close – in the season Barcelona played against Juventus in the Joan Gamper (an annual pre-season tournament Barca play year).
I remember that summer. But, because he was so fantastic in the Joan Gamper, they changed their minds. They kept Messi at Barcelona. So, if you look back in history, maybe if he did not play in the Joan Gamper in that summer, maybe today he could have been the biggest star in Espanyol. Maybe I would still be at Espanyol managing him!”
The Joan Gamper Trophy game was Messi’s first ever start for Barcelona. Juventus won the match on penalties but Messi’s performance left an everlasting impression on everyone who was present at the stadium that day. Since then, Messi has played 646 matches for Barcelona, netting 560 goals which is a club record.
Tottenham Hotspur face Barcelona in a Champions League fixture at Wembley tomorrow. This will be the first meeting between both sides in 36 years.
Pochettino said that it is nearly impossible to stop Messi but his team should keep trying and enjoying it. He said, “I am not going to try to find a solution against Messi. I think that’s impossible.
It’s only to enjoy it. More than worrying you, it needs to excite you. I played against (Diego) Maradona and Ronaldo and, for your ego, it’s a thing that you are going to tell your kids and grandkids. So enjoy it, stay close and try to play in the opposite half, push Leo to play far from your goal. Because if not, it’s terrible!”
Tottenham desperately need the win against Barcelona to bring their Champions League campaign on track since they have already lost to Inter Milan.
