Chelsea target Lionel Messi nearly joined the club back in 2014 in a 'secret deal' amid fresh rumours of a Paris Saint-Germain fallout that could prompt Roman Abramovich into action in the near future.
Messi, 34, endured a rather eventful summer in 2021- having to kiss goodbye to his beloved Barcelona who were on their knees financially due the Covid-19 effects and previous damage committed by the previous regime.
Despite a rather sweet start to his career in the French capital, recent Covid related events and accusations have caused a rift between the player in question and Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino.
On top of this, Atletico Madrid star Yannick Carrasco has predicted boldly to the Spanish media that he expects the GOAT to leave Paris if they aren't to win the Champions League this season.
"Messi will always miss the 'modus vivendi' he had in Barcelona," the Belgian told El Chiringuito TV programme via the Mirror.
"If he succeeds, which means winning the Champions League, he could extend his stay for another year."
"If PSG don't win the Champions League then this year is going to be a long one.
"I don't think he regrets his decision in a sporting sense, but on a personal level he realised (he made a mistake)."
Amid all these recent developments in the future of the 34-year-old, it's unbelievable to think that the seven time Ballon d'Or winner once nearly sealed a move to west London nearly eight years ago.
Messi once "secretly" agreed to join Chelsea for £208million back in 2014, but the move fell through after his dad and agent Jorge Messi found out about these informal talks.
Sky Sports' Gianluca Di Marzio disclosed that Roman Abramovich and co. agreed to give Messi an annual wage of $65 million (£46.7million) plus 70% of image rights, with the Argentine keen on the deal.
However, it crashed and burned after Messi's father was made aware of the plans by an intermediary who was angry he was squeezed out of the negotiations.
Jose Mourinho started his second stint at Stamford Bridge when these proposed talks occurred in private.
Chelsea may be left to wonder what might have been, but the fact that they went on to win the Premier League in the 2014/15 season with Eden Hazard playing the starring role to spearhead the club to more silverware will be a little consolation.
With a current return being touted for club legend Hazard, maybe Abramovich and co. should wait a little longer until the summer to re-evaluate the situation regarding who the next marquee signing should be for Thomas Tuchel.
When at PSG, Tuchel was unfortunate to miss out on the chance of being able to manage the Argentine, so the Russian billionaire could treat the German for all his hard work and achievements acquired since taking over from Frank Lampard at the start of 2021 like winning the Champions League at the end of the 2020/21 campaign.
“He’s very welcome!" the 48-year-old joked back in 2020. "Which coach says no to Messi?!"
