The newly-formed Glenmalure Rovers have jokingly announced the signing of free agent Lionel Messi.
The Dublin side formed earlier this year and will compete in the United Churches Football League.
Taking to Instagram account, the team poked fun at the race for Messi's signature, jokingly declaring themselves the winners:
The post read: "Glenmalure Rovers can confirm they have agreed a 3 year deal with Leo Messi.
"We can't thank our sponsors enough for helping us getting this over the line.
"Lionel is the latest addition to Tommy Kelly's strong squad."
The team is made up of Shamrock Rovers fans and earlier this year Hoops auctioned off first-team jerseys from their European run in 2020 to assist the new outfit with funding. This, along with help from a number of sponsors and Rovers fans themselves has allowed Glenmalure to push on and establish themselves as competitors.
The club was initially started as a way for Rovers fans to come together and play football after the crushing Level 5 lockdown which halted all sporting activity in the country below elite level.
Having secured a home at Walkinstown Park, the squad is now established and ready for UCFL action.
Six-time Balon d’Or winner Messi is now a free agent having run down his contract with Barcelona, the club where he has for many cemented his status as the greatest footballer of all time.
Since joining Barcelona aged 13 after packing up and leaving his native Argentina, Messi has scored 474 goals in 520 appearances for the Catalan giants, winning 34 major trophies in his time at the club.
His list of honours is greatly varied and includes 10 La Liga titles as well as four UEFA Champions League triumphs.
The Argentine is believed to have a salary worth £500m across four years, and securing his services should prove costly.
Glenmalure have had two outings to date in pre-season preparations, their first ending in a 4-1 defeat against Latin Dubs.
A stronger performance came more recently in a 5-3 win over Támh Leacht FC.
The scorelines would suggest that the frontmen are firing, and perhaps even one the greatest of all time in Messi will look elsewhere for a guarantee of first-team football.
