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Inter Milan Tried To Sign Lionel Messi For More Than Quadruple The World Record Transfer Fee

Inter Milan Tried To Sign Lionel Messi For More Than Quadruple The World Record Transfer Fee

Inter Milan offered huge cash to sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona in 2006.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Inter Milan tabled a whopping £225 million bid to sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona in 2006.

That's according to Joan Laporta, who has returned to the club's presidency after being elected in for a second time.

His first term was between 2003 and 2010 and he's revealed that the club rejected a huge offer for Messi 15 years back.

Image: PA
Image: PA

A young Messi had just helped Barcelona win the Champions League under Frank Rijkaard and Inter were prepared to pay four times the current world record transfer fee for his services.

At the time, Zinedine Zidane was he most expensive player in history after joining Real Madrid from Juventus for £46.6 million in 2001.

Laporta told Radio Onda Cero: "Nobody who loves Barcelona can have doubts about Messi.

"We rejected a €250m (£225m) offer coming from Inter in 2006. [Massimo] Moratti wanted to bring him to his club."

Messi has gone on to win a further two Champions Leagues, eight La Ligas and six Ballon d'Ors in a dominant period in world football.

Image: PA
Image: PA

Barcelona's captain and record goalscorer is out of contract in the summer but it is yet not clear whether he will stay put or move onto pastures new.

Last year, when he handed in a transfer request and it looked like he may leave the Nou Camp, Inter were one of the clubs keen on the Argentine.

Speaking in August, former Inter director Massimiliano Mirabelli told Radio Sportiva: "When I was at Inter, President Zhang would talk about the transfer market and say, 'I want Messi,' but we had to explain it wasn't possible due to Financial Fair Play.

"I can assure you that Messi is more than a dream for Inter.

"He now has only a year left on his contract and Barca don't want to risk losing him for free next summer.

"There are important decisions to be made in Spain, but they won't want to be left empty-handed.

"Anyone who wants to make the most of the situation should step forward."

Showing no signs of slowing down, Messi has scored 29 goals and registered 13 assists in all competitions this season.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Football, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Inter Milan

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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