Everything Barca
Fansided

Lionel Messi is the prime example for ‘Money isn’t Everything’

By Nishant Narayanan

BARCELONA, SPAIN - MARCH 07: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona celebrates his team's first goal during the Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad at Camp Nou on March 07, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MARCH 07: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona celebrates his team's first goal during the Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad at Camp Nou on March 07, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Inter Milan had gone all out to sign Lionel Messi but he rejected the offer

Inter Milan were prepared to offer big money to Leo Messi to move away from Camp Nou but the Argentine refused in favour of remaining loyal.

More from Everything Barca

Former Inter Sporting Director, Marco Branca, confirmed that the Nerazzurri had attempted to sign the Argentine maestro back in 2008. One of the greatest footballers in the history of the sport joined the Catalans in 2001, joining the famed academy La Masia. It took only until 2003 where at the young age of 16, Leo made his first-team appearance against Jose Mourinho’s Porto.

Inter were among the millions that were really impressed by the young Argentine, who since then has become the only player to win the Ballon d’Or recognition six times. In 2008, when the Barca no. 10 was only 21 years of age, the Italian side tried extremely hard to separate him from the Nou Camp by offering a deal much greater than that of Barca.

"“Yes, we moved for him but Leo did not want to leave Barcelona, He was very grateful to the club to leave because he was very grateful to a club that signed him as a child and believed in him so much and helped him overcome those health problems he had. Money does not always come first.” Branca told Libero."

Marco, in his term as the sporting director for Inter from 2002 until 2014,  was known to have signed some of the greatest talents for the club, especially the best Jose Mourinho team of 2009-10, where the Nerazzurri won the treble after signing Wesley Sneijder, Diego Milito and Barca’s Samuel Eto’o.

Branca shows how despite receiving a huge payment offer at such a young age Messi chose to remain loyal to the team that gave him his first break and helped him through the difficult circumstances of his health condition. Today, after 16 remarkable seasons with Barca, Leo has made 473 appearances across all competitions with 438 goals under his belt.

"Even former Nerazzurri president, Massimo Moratti, confirmed Branca’s story. “He’s everyone’s dream but he will not leave Barcelona, He’s still the greatest player of all.”Source Goal"

Next. Analysing the 5 destinations for Barcelona’s Nelson Semedo. dark

Imagine what could have happened if the world’s best footballer had made a different choice?

Home/FC Barcelona News