Barcelona legend Lionel Messi was once offered to Real Madrid, former official reveals: ‘Could have snapped him up’

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Kickjolly · AI-written · automatically reviewed · Barca Universal ↗

Former Real Madrid technical secretary Miguel Angel Portugal revealed that an intermediary offered Lionel Messi to the club before he became a Barcelona legend. This opportunity arose around 2001 when Messi was a teenager and his contractual situation at Barcelona was unresolved. Portugal discussed this during an interview with AS, where he mentioned several other players he had monitored during his time at Real Madrid.

Portugal claimed that someone from Messi's circle approached Real Madrid with the possibility of signing him when he didn't have a professional contract with Barcelona. He stated that the club received information suggesting Messi could be available, but wasn't sure if it was accurate. Portugal emphasized that the possibility was never seriously pursued due to respect for Barcelona.

Portugal was careful not to suggest that a transfer was close to completion, acknowledging that the information reaching the club may not have been entirely accurate. He concluded that while there was some contact, the transfer wouldn't have gone ahead out of respect for Barcelona. If Messi had joined Real Madrid, it would have fundamentally changed the story of Spanish football.