Former Inter Milan midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron has revealed that Lionel Messi once told him that he wanted to join the Nerazzuri. Veron, who himself spent two years with the Nerazzurri disclosed that Messi had revealed his desire to play for the Milan-based club ‘several years ago’.
However, the 40-year-old made it clear that Messi leaving Barcelona would be hard to imagine now, saying, “Several years ago, he [Messi] asked me about Italy. He told me that he would like to play for Inter.”
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“Let it be clear, this is something from the past, when [Massimo] Moratti was president. I cannot believe that Messi would leave Barcelona now.”
Messi has been with Barcelona since 2001 when he joined their youth team and was later promoted to the senior team, making his debut for them back in 2004. The 28-year-old has gone on to become a world-beater since and has won various accolades, both at the club and individual level. Along with four UEFA Champions League titles, he has won seven La Liga and three Club World Cups as well.
The Argentine talisman has won four Ballon D’Or awards between 2009 and 2013 and is widely considered as the best player to have ever graced the game of football. He scored 58 goals for the Blaugrana last season and helped them to a second-ever treble winning season, where the club won the La Liga, the UEFA Champions League and the Copa Del Rey.
The forward has a contract with the Catalan giants which can keep him at the club till 2017-18. However, he has been linked with a move to the Premier League recently with reports emerging that Manchester City are ready to offer him as much as £800,000-a-week to join them next summer.
Dybala can emulate Messi
Veron spent the majority of his career in Italy with teams like Sampdoria, Parma, Lazio and then joined Internazionale upon his return from the English Premier League.
The Argentine, who played for both Manchester United and Chelsea in the Premier League talked about another compatriot of his, Paolo Dybala, who has been tipped by many in Italy to become the next Messi. Although, the former Argentina midfielder clearly stated that “Messi is Messi”, he would be happy to see the Juventus forward delight the football world.
“There is a lot of expectation and pressure on Dybala,” said the 40-year-old. “Not everybody can make it to Juve at such a young age. Being from Argentina, I hope Messi is right and Dybala is the future.
“Messi is Messi, but it would be nice to see another Argentine dominate after him.”
