Wenger reveals ‘untouchable’ player Arsenal tried to sign

Matt Stead

Arsene Wenger says Arsenal tried to sign Lionel Messi before discovering “he was untouchable at the time”.

Wenger, who has almost signed every footballer ever, was interested in Messi around the time of their most recent Premier League title win in 2003/04.

Arsenal looked into the prospect of bringing the Argentinean in alongside fellow La Masia alumnus Cesc Fabregas in September 2003.

But they found that, while attracting Fabregas to north London was straightforward, Messi was “untouchable”.

“We were in discussions with [Messi] when we bought Fabregas, because Messi played [with him].

“You can realise sometimes what fantastic youth teams you had before when you’re a club like Barcelona. In the same team, Messi, [Gerard] Pique and Fabregas.

“Pique and Fabregas came to England [with Manchester United and Arsenal respectively], Messi stayed in Spain. We were interested in him, but he was untouchable at the time.”