Lionel Messi was on his way to the exit at Barcelona last summer, but ultimately chose to stay at the Camp Nou. It was not the first time that the Argentinian was about to leave his club. Transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio writes in his book Grand Hotel Calciomercato about how a transfer from Messi to Chelsea in 2014 failed.

In the 2014 winter transfer window, José Mourinho was at the helm of Chelsea and would have liked to provide his selection with the Argentinian from Barcelona. Di Marzio writes in a book how Messi almost moved from Spain from England. The transfer perils took place during the period when Messi was involved in a tax case with the Spanish government. He was so upset about this that he thought about leaving Spain.

Messi is said to have called in Deco himself at the time to help start a transfer. The two knew each other from their joint period at Barcelona and the Portuguese had made the step from Camp Nou to Stamford Bridge in 2008. Messi liked playing football in England and living in London. According to Di Marzio, Messi even had a video call with Mourinho and the signals were green.

Chelsea were able to put the € 250 million lump sum on the table and the club had a contract worth € 50 million net per year for Messi in place. However, Father Jorge was unaware of the deal that was to come. Messi senior learned of his son’s wish to leave through Cesc Fàgregas and Deco. He contacted his son by phone for text and explanation. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, I swear,” that’s how Messi’s answer would have sounded. It did not come to a transfer.