"I’ve never seen a player with so much quality" - When former Juventus manager confirmed they tried to sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona in 2005
Former Juventus manager Fabio Capello revealed in 2020 that he wanted to sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona in 2005. The Argentine magician first took the field for the Catalans in October 2004 and went on to transform the club's fortunes.
By then, the player had already begun to catch the eye with the Barcelona B team. The following year, the Bianconeri faced the LaLiga giants in the Joan Gamper Trophy, a pre-season friendly fixture, at Camp Nou.
While the Serie A giants eventually won the game via penalties, Capello was captivated by a young Lionel Messi, who was making his mark under then-manager Frank Rijkaard.
Speaking to the press after the game in 2005, as cited by Football Italia, Capello was full of praise for the Argentinean.
“I think I’ve never seen a player with so much quality for the age he has. He has personality, pace, everything. it was a pleasure to watch him,” said Capello.
In an interview in 2020, the Italian manager revisited the encounter, and revealed that he wanted to sign Messi after watching him for 20 minutes.
“I had never seen an 18-year-old playing with such personality in front of 90,000 fans. After 20 minutes, I asked Rijkaard if I could sign him for one season, but he said no,” said Capello.
Messi went on to spend 17 seasons at Barcelona, establishing himself as the club's greatest player, before leaving in 2021.
How many trophies has Lionel Messi won with Barcelona?
Lionel Messi is the most decorated player in Barcelona's history. The Argentine maestro has won 35 trophies with the Catalans in his career. He is also the most decorated football player in the history of the game, with 46 trophies.
La Pulga's first trophy with the Spanish giants was the 2004/05 league title. The 37-year-old would go on to win LaLiga nine more times during his time with Barcelona.
He also won the Champions League four times, the Copa Del Rey seven times and the Supercopa de Espana title seven times. He has also won the UEFA Super League and the FIFA Club World Cup with the Catalans.
Lionel Messi had to leave Camp Nou in 2021 after the LaLiga giants failed to renew his deal due to their financial issues. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) won the race for the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner. After two seasons in Ligue 1, he moved to the MLS to join Inter Miami in 2023.