Lionel Messi wasn’t on the verge of a change for the first time in summer 2020. A few years earlier, the Barca star seriously thought of saying goodbye.
In the turbulent transfer summer of 2020, Lionel Messi was closer than ever to leaving FC Barcelona – at least so far.
Because now it comes to light that the superstar from Argentina almost turned his back on his great love. Six years ago, in the summer of 2014, the 33-year-old was about to join Chelsea.
This is claimed by the Italian transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio in his new book Grand Hotel Calciomercato, in which he reveals some of the greatest transfer secrets of recent years. Messi had then agreed verbally with the coach of the blues, a certain José Mourinho, on a change.
“With Mourinho I
can win everything” So everything started in January 2014. Messi was tired of a tax evasion process in Spain and looked for alternatives to the club where he has so far completed his entire professional career. Behind the scenes, the two parties contacted Messi, who was said to have talked to his former teammate Deco about a jump to the Stamford Bridge. He played for Chelsea until 2010.
The decisive factor was the conversation with Mourinho, which took place via FaceTime. Allegedly Messi said afterwards: “With Mourinho I can win everything I want. He’s a winner, concludes the deal.”