Football news - Lionel Messi came ‘very close’ to joining Espanyol in 2005 – Mauricio Pochettino
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Updated 02/10/2018 at 09:00 GMT
Mauricio Pochettino has claimed Barcelona ace Lionel Messi almost made a switch to Espanyol as a youngster.
Lionel Messi, 2005
Image credit: Getty Images
The Tottenham boss was playing for Espanyol in 2005 when a young Messi caught the eye of his club’s chiefs and a move was mooted.
However, Pochettino blames Fabio Capello for disrupting the move, saying the former Juventus boss’ decision to praise Messi after a dazzling display in the Joan Gamper Cup encouraged Barca to hold on to the La Masia graduate.
"I started to hear about him when I was at Espanyol – a small guy playing in the academy in Barcelona," Pochettino said ahead of Spurs’ clash with Barca in the Champions League on Wednesday.
"He arrived when he was 13 years old, going from Argentina to Barcelona. Then I heard he was so close to signing for Espanyol – very close – in the season Barcelona played against Juventus under [Fabio] Capello in the Joan Gamper Cup.
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Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho
Image credit: Getty Images
"Because he was so fantastic in the Joan Gamper, Capello praised him afterwards and they changed the decision and kept Messi at Barcelona.
So if you look back in history, maybe if he didn't play in the Joan Gamper that summer, maybe today he could have been the biggest star in Espanyol and Espanyol could be Barcelona.
"We would have been team-mates, and maybe I would have still been in Espanyol managing him."
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