Fresh details have emerged of Arsenal's failed attempt to sign Lionel Messi while he was still a youth team player at Barcelona.
Messi went on to become a legendary player at the Nou Camp, winning 10 LaLiga titles and four Champions Leagues. But things could have been very different had Arsenal been successful in their attempts to bring him to England before he even made his debut.
Back in 2003, the Gunners were working to bring in Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona and also had their eye on other youth team players at the Spanish giants. One of them was Messi, with former Arsenal scout Francis Cagigao now revealing several meetings were held.
