Ex-Barca president: Inter offered €250m for 19-year-old Messi, I rejected them

Laporta, who became the president of Barca in 2003, was just 41 years old at that time.

Rejected an offer for young Messi

Joan Laporta: “It was in 2006, when Inter's owner Moratti offered me 250 million Euros. He offered this sum of money and I said no. I did not consider it for a minute, but my only concern was that I knew that Inter are pushing Messi's father, Jorge.

I talked with the father and said to him that he will probably earn more money at Inter. However, here he will have the structure to become a great player, in a familiar zone, with the values that helped him since he was 13.

Fortunately, they decided to stay. Just imagine how the history would change if we sold Messi. “

Leo Messi's condition

Joan Laporta: “Of course he's the best. However, what I like to see is that he matured a lot as a person. The way he talks to the players and the fans, he became a real captain. For someone like me who remembers him as a kid its really great.