Lionel Messi: Barca Ex-president Joan Says Rejected €250m from Inter

Lionel Messi: Barca Ex-president Joan Says Rejected €250m from Inter

Babajide Orevba
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:50 PM
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- Lionel Messi’s story could have been different if Barcelona had accepted Inter’s bid in 2006

- It was gathered that the Italian club offered €250million to the Spanish giants for Messi

- Former Barcelona president Joan Laport made the disclosure in a recent interview

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Inter Milan had in 2006 offered Barcelona a bid of €250million for the Argentine legend, Lionel Messi, according to former club president Joan Laporta.

Laporta who is also in the race for the 2021 presidency of the club stated that, had Barcelona not rejected such blockbuster offer from the Italian club, such transfer would have shattered the record.

Messi is already in the final year of his contract at the Catalan club and will become a free agent at the end of the season amid major interests from Premier League club, Manchester City.

However, his career could have been far different, had the Spanish club accepted to a bid from Italian giants Inter in 2006 during the spells of big names including Deco, Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o at the Camp Nou.

Laporte told Spanish radio station Onda Cero via 90min that Barcelona resisted a colossal €250m offer. He said:

“Nobody who loves Barcelona can have doubts about Messi. I hope I can be named president and then I’ll speak with him.
“We rejected a €250m offer coming from Inter in 2006. [Massimo] Moratti wanted to bring him to his club.”
Lionel Messi: Former Barca president Laporta claims once rejected €250m bid for Messi
Lionel Messi's story could have been different had he joined Inter in 2006. Photo: Etsuo Hara
Source: Getty Images

Meanwhile, Spanish defender Gerard Pique is hoping Lionel Messi will remain at Barcelona beyond the summer of 2021.

The 33-year-old's current deal with the Catalans expires at the end of the ongoing season with no clear plans on signing a new deal with them.

He made attempts to force a move out of the Nou Camp in August but later made a U-turn to see out his deal with the club.

Manchester City and Inter Milan were among the front runners for the signature of the six-time Ballon d'Or winner earlier in the year.

Legit.ng earlier reported that Chelsea look like the most likely team to sign veteran Bayern Munich defender, David Alaba when he becomes a free agent, reports claim.

Alaba who can play as a centre-back or a left-back defender will not sign a new deal with the Bundesliga giants after the offer of a new contract was taken off the table.

The Austrian's contract at the Allianz Arena is set to expire at the end of the season with Real Madrid, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain also in the position to sign the defender.

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Babajide Orevba photo
Babajide Orevba
Babajide Orevba is a CAF accredited Nigerian journalist and HOD of the Local Desk with over 10 years of experience in media landscape.He studied NCE Political Science/Social Studies, AOCOED.
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