A former chief of one of Europe's biggest clubs has now revealed that he spent "10 days" trying to sign Lionel Messi without any success.
The Argentina superstar has been available on a free transfer only twice in his glittering career, when he left FC Barcelona in 2021 and when his contract expired at Paris Saint-Germain in June this year.
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After two decades on the books of Barca, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner was released by the Spanish outfit due financial issues that prevented the club from handing him a new deal.
Ex-AC Milan technical director Paolo Maldini has now revealed that he made ambitious efforts to land the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner's signature for the Serie A giants, but the superstar opted for a move to PSG instead.
"For 10 days we tried to bring Messi to Milan, but then we realised it was impossible," Maldini said on the PoretCast podcast, per Goal.
"It is too late now, but a player like Messi is a spectacle for anyone to witness.
"When I read that he might even go to Inter, I got scared!"
With Maldini having left the Rossoneri in June this year, he has been linked with a sensational move to Manchester United as part of the club's restructuring amid a Sir Jim Ratcliffe's expected acquisition of a 25% stake of the Red Devils.
The British billionaire is expected to be in charge of all footballing operations once the deal is concluded, and Maldini could potentially becoming a member of United sporting hierarchy.
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Messi, meanwhile, has since joined Inter Miami and insisted that he is now only focused on enjoying his twilight years with his family in the US.
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