10 Players Who Rejected Arsenal

Argueably one of the best players to play the beautiful game, Lionel Messi was apparently close to joining the Gunners as a 16-year-old. At the same time the North London outfit sealed the deal to bring a young Cesc Fabregas to the club, they almost clinched the signature of the Argentine, but he opted to stay in Barcelona as Arsenal couldn't secure a property for his family.

Now, five Ballon D'Ors later, Messi must be happy with his decision to stay with the Catalan giants, while Arsenal and their supporters can only look back and think 'what if'.

It wasn't the only time Messi was linked with a move to the capital, after the free-scoring forward apparently sounded out a move to the Gunners in 2014 just months before signing a new contract in Spain.