Real Madrid held talks with Barcelona’s Messi

Lionel Messi held talks with Barcelona ‘s archrivals Real Madrid over a shock move to the Bernabeu.

But it didn’t stop him having discussions with Madrid on three separate occasions, according to Spanish radio station Cadena Cope.

 “The first attempt from Real Madrid to sign Messi happened in the summer of 2011. At Madrid they feared that Cristiano Ronaldo would leave the club for a huge offer from Manchester City, and that was when they put into motion the work to replace him with another star.

 “Real Madrid used an intermediary to arrange this meeting who wasn’t a club employee but was someone very close to Florentino Perez. The response was rapid and clear: ‘Thanks for the interest, but Leo isn’t moving.’”