Real Madrid had tried to sign Lionel Messi.
The Blancos wanted to use their stadium renovation budget to buy the Barcelona legend – but the Argentine said no – very bluntly.
This news was revealed by jounalist Gianluca Di Marzio. Real Madrid had approached Messi just before the Los Blancos became major contenders in European football.
“The proposal from the president of Real Madrid, Florentino Perez, was presented in 2013 and he offered 250 million euros for the Argentine,” Di Marzio published in his book ‘Grand Hotel Calciomercato’.
“That money was originally intended for the redevelopment of the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
“However, Messi’s response was very blunt, he essentially said ‘I’m not going to Real Madrid, you’re wasting your time’.”
Messi had turned down the offer immediately. But would Real Madrid players have liked him over to their side? Marco Asensio talks about Messi on the verge of leaving Barcelona just recently.
The Blancos winger told El Transistor: “I didn’t care if Messi left or stayed. That he stayed will be better for Barcelona; I like playing against the best.”
In a way, Asensio simply wants to play against ‘the best’, which is Messi. Had Messi left Barcelona or joined Real Madrid long back, maybe football history might have been truly different.
See More:Â Real Madrid Players Salaries 2020 (Weekly Wages)
