Wenger: Arsenal were in talks with Messi and I regret not signing him

Arsene Wenger has revealed just how close Arsenal came to signing Lionel Messi from Barcelona in 2003.

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The Gunners brought Cesc Fabregas over from the Catalan capital the same year and Wenger regrets not persisting with a deal to sign Messi too.

“You have to live with regrets in life, you know,” Wenger told beIN Sports.

“There’s only unachieved business in life and this is a big part of it.

“We were in discussions with [Messi] when we bought Fabregas because Messiplayed [with him].

“You can realise sometimes what fantastic youth teams you used to have when you’re a club like Barcelona,” he mentioned.

“In the same team, Messi, [Gerard] Pique and Fabregas.

“Pique and Fabregas came to England, Messi stayed in Spain.

“We were interested in him, but he was untouchable at the time.”