€500m for Messi! Details of the crazy transfer revealed
One of the wildest transfer attempts in football history has resurfaced.
Details: Former Inter president Massimo Moratti has revealed that in 2012 he was ready to commit €500 million in an attempt to sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona. According to Moratti, the figure was extraordinary even by the standards of elite football at the time, and he sent an Inter vice-president to Barcelona to open negotiations.
The move never got close to becoming reality. Moratti said Messi rejected the approach before even learning the financial details of the proposal. The Argentine's position was clear: he appreciated Inter's interest but wanted to finish his career at Barcelona.
Messi ultimately stayed with the Catalan giants until 2021. His long spell at Barcelona ended when the club was unable to register a new contract, after which the Argentine joined Paris Saint-Germain before moving to the United States.
It is worth noting that Messi remains an Inter Miami player today. The MLS club officially extended his contract through the end of the 2028 season, meaning the Argentine is still tied to the Florida side long after Moratti's extraordinary proposal became part of transfer history.
Reminder: Official! Will Messi play for Argentina again?
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
