Its hard to imagine Lionel Messi donning the colours of any club but Barcelona, but according to Barcelona president Joan Laporta, Inter Milan made the most outrageous of transfer attempts in the summer of 2009. The four-time Ballon dOr winner is widely regarded as one of the finest players to have ever kicked a piece of leather around a pitch, and what makes Inters inquiry so ambitious was that it wasnt even before Messi had established himself as a worldwide phenomenon. In 2009, the 22 year old had just helped Barcelona to an historic treble, scoring a header-for-the-scrapbook against Manchester United in the Champions League final. 38 goals had just been plundered in 51 games - what could Inter president Massimo Moratti have possibly gained from the inquiry other than a smirk and a swift refusal?
''Yes, he did (make an enquiry for Messi). But there is nothing to talk about. Messi is not for sale. Moratti must forget about it. - Joan Laporta, November 2009.
With a contract keeping him at the club until 2016, with a release clause of 250 million euros inserted, it was a waste of breath on Morattis part. However, the story may have ended there, but that is not where it began for the Argentinian superstars links with the San Siro. Indeed, according to Italian agent Enzo Bronzetti, Moratti almost secured his signature when he was just 17 years old.
''Many years ago, Moratti was enamoured with Messi. I was at Messis home with his father and Lionel was only 17. There was a defect in the contract: he had to move from a youth deal to that of a professional, but had already played for the first team. Moratti told me to go and get him. Lionel and his father had an appointment with Barcelona that afternoon to hear their offer. I can guarantee to you that Moratti spoke to Messi and his father on the phone. Inter offered 1 million euros more than Barca. However, he signed for the Spaniards because he felt he owed them a great deal. Barcelona had brought in very expensive medicine from Switzerland to help with his growth hormone deficiency.' - Enzo Bronzetti, March 2011.
Looks like that medicine was worth every cent now. So that's a wrap - what do you think? Any glaring omissions? As always, feel free to leave your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
