INSIDER: Barcelona almost rejected Messi in 2001

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INSIDER: Barcelona almost rejected Messi in 2001

PSG star Lionel Messi was almost a Barcelona reject, it has been revealed.

The Argentine's family, it has been revealed, almost priced a young Messi out a move to the Nou Camp.

It was in the autumn of 2001 when Barça had an agreement with Messi and his family for him to join the club at a rate of 100 million pesetas per season.

Messi's biographer Guillem Balagué revealed Javier Pérez Farguell had joined Barcelona's management team at that moment and was surprised to see Messi's contract.

He considered it excessive and they presented a lesser proposal.

"Who does he think he is? Maradona? Let's stop this and let him return to Argentina," said one director, assured Balagué to Le Parisien.

In the end, Messi's family and Barca reached an agreement to take a young Leo to Spain.