Arsenal tried to sign Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique, former manager Arsene Wenger has revealed.
After the successful acquisition and impressive early showing of Cesc Fabregas, the Gunners tried to add two more talented La Masia graduates to their squad, Wenger has admitted.
And while he suggested that a move for Messi was never close, Wenger revealed that Arsenal did try and procure the Argentine during the embryonic days of his career at Barcelona.
“We tried, we were not near to signing Messi,” Wenger said on beIN Sports. “But we tried to sign Pique, Fabregas and Messi, of course, we already tried but he was already too big at the time.
“Don’t forget in 2006 when we played the Champions League final against Barcelona, Messi couldn’t play because he was injured...so that’s 13 years ago and he was already a regular player in the first team.
“What this guy has done is unbelievable.”
Wenger has previously discussed Arsenal’s interest in Cristiano Ronaldo.
While a move for Ronaldo also failed to come off, the veteran Frenchman has admitted he would have loved to coach the Portuguese forward, as well as Messi.
“That’s real fantasy football,” he said when asked of the possibility of Messi and Ronaldo playing alongside one another at Arsenal.
“I would have loved to.
“I had big personalities in my life, very big personalities. If you can give them what they want they are happy.”
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