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Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger once revealed how the club had tried to sign Lionel Messi in the past. Speaking to beIN Sports back in 2019 (according to GOAL), Wenger said the Gunners were keen on bringing Messi into their fold.
The Gunners had first brought Cesc Fabregas, a Barcelona youth graduate to their team in 2003, and the Spaniard had excelled for them for several years. Seeing Fabregas do well, Arsenal tried to bring Messi and Gerard Pique. Wenger said although he tried to make the signings, they did not materialize.
“We tried, we were not near to signing Messi. 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 had said back in 2019.
Wenger also spoke about the dream of most football managers — having both Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi in their team. While claiming that he would have been able to manage their personalities, he said this reality was just too difficult to bring to pass.
“That’s real fantasy football. I would have loved to (manage both Ronaldo and Messi). I had big personalities in my life, very big personalities. If you can give them what they want they are happy,” Wenger had said.
Arsenal are fifth on the English Premier League points table
Arsenal, now managed by former captain Mikel Arteta, are fifth on the EPL table with 18 points to their name. The Gunners have won five out of the 10 league matches they have played this season.
Arsenal are about to go into a classic showdown in a London derby against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday (10 November). The winner of this game will earn a lot of bragging points over the other.
Edited by Parag Jain