Glasgow Rangers have been no strangers to signing gamers from Barcelona within the early 2000s, paying large cash for Mikel Arteta and Ronald de Boer.
Nonetheless, these at Ibrox almost introduced in Lionel Messi from the Catalan giants earlier than he broke into the first-team image on the Nou Camp.
The Argentina icon is rightly recognised as among the finest footballers to ever play the sport and hasn’t seemed again since making his senior Barcelona debut on the age of 17 in 2004. He spent 17 years with Barcelona earlier than signing for Paris Saint-Germain after which Inter Miami.
Lionel Messi’s main honours | 12 months gained |
|---|---|
Ballon d’Or | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023 |
World Cup | 2022 |
Copa America | 2021, 2024 |
Champions League | 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015 |
La Liga | 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 |
Ligue 1 | 2022, 2023 |
Uefa Tremendous Cup | 2009, 2011, 2015 |
Membership World Cup | 2010, 2012, 2016 |
Copa del Rey | 2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021 |
Spanish Tremendous Cup | 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018 |
Supporters’ Defend | 2024 |
MLS League Cup | 2023 |
Olympic Gold Medal | 2008 |
French Tremendous Cup | 2022 |
Messi has gained every part there may be to win within the recreation, together with eight Ballon d’Or awards, and he lastly claimed World Cup glory along with his nation in 2022.
Nonetheless, issues might have been so totally different for the magician, if these in Glasgow received their approach.
How Rangers almost signed Messi from Barcelona
As per a report from Aim, Rangers really made enquiries to signal Messi on mortgage from Barcelona previous to his senior debut. Sadly, these efforts have been turned down by these on the Nou Camp, nevertheless it was Alex McLeish’s son, Jon, who discovered Messi.
Speaking on Graham Hunter’s The Huge Interview podcast in 2017, McLeish went into element on how his son’s love of Soccer Supervisor alerted him to Messi in 2003, with Rangers on the seek for a alternative for Barry Ferguson.
“My son Jon was into Championship Supervisor. He was always giving me names in South America. They arrive out of the sky and say ‘Lionel Messi goes to be one of the best participant on this planet’.
“He was 13 or 14 on the time. You dismiss it however Rangers have been downsizing and we have been in search of some high quality in midfield.
“Barry Ferguson had gone all the way down to Blackburn so we misplaced a man who would have taken the ball in any stadium anyplace on this planet. We wanted gamers of that ilk once more.
“Jan Wouters phoned Henk ten Cate, who was the assistant of Frank Rijkaard, the ex-Dutch worldwide.
“Jan phoned him and stated: ‘Messi?’ We have been instructed no probability.”
Jon’s prediction of Messi turning into the best on this planet was correct, exhibiting the powers Soccer Supervisor can have in actual life.
