How Deco ruined Lionel Messi’s move to Chelsea

Lionel Messi spent most of his career at Barcelona, and according to a new report, that could be all thanks to a former Chelsea player, Deco who ruined the Argentine’s move to West-London at a time the 8th time Ballon D’or winner wanted to leave Catalan.

In a revelation detailed by Sky Sports’ Gianluca Di Marzio in his book, it has been disclosed that Lionel Messi, the iconic footballer, was on the verge of a sensational move to Chelsea in 2014, with a €250 million deal agreed upon in secret negotiations.

During a tumultuous period marked by a Spanish government investigation into tax evasion involving Messi and his family, discussions between Messi’s representatives and Chelsea unfolded. The scrutiny and pressure from the probe led Messi to contemplate departing Spain, seeking a fresh start elsewhere.

Chelsea, eager to secure the services of the footballing maestro, reportedly consented to meet Messi’s staggering release clause of €250 million. The proposed deal included an annual salary of €55 million for Messi, along with a substantial 70% share of image rights. Plans were in place for Messi to make a move to Stamford Bridge by the upcoming summer transfer window.

However, the anticipated transfer hit an abrupt obstacle when Lionel Messi’s father and agent, Jorge Messi, became privy to the negotiations. It is reported that former teammate Deco inadvertently revealed the impending move to Jorge Messi, leading to the collapse of the agreement at the eleventh hour.

Following the breakdown of talks with Chelsea, Messi ultimately opted to pen a new contract with Barcelona later that same summer. His decision tied him to the Catalan club until the summer of 2021, extending his illustrious tenure at Barcelona despite the near-miss of a potentially game-changing transfer to the Premier League.