Arsenal were linked with many youngsters that would go on to be world-class players during Arsene Wenger's era as the Gunners' boss. This includes reported moves for players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The north London side were also linked to the greatest player have to played the game, Lionel Messi. The Argentine was linked with a move to the club in 2003.
Fresh details have emerged of Arsenal's failed attempt to sign Lionel Messi while he was still a youth team player at Barcelona. This comes after former Arsenal scout Francis Cagigao revealed that the Gunners had held several meetings with the Catalan club.
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Speaking to AS, Cagigao said: "The first time I saw him was in Lloret de Mar, at the MIC tournament, when he just turned 15. He was already a phenomenon. Messi's situation was not regulated and it was impossible for him to have a work permit in the UK,"
"He had several meetings with Horacio Gaggioli, his representative at the time, but it was impossible. The Piqué thing was not done due to a somewhat complex bureaucratic issue. In the end, we signed Cesc Fabregas from that great Barça cadet team." Cagigao added.
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, but acquiring a work permit proved to be a sticking point in what could have been a monumental transfer for the Gunners.
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