Offered Leo Messi to Real Madrid

Former Real Madrid scout Miguel Ángel Portugal revealed the club once had the chance to sign Messi when his Barcelona contract was in limbo, but chose not to pursue it out of respect.

Miguel Ángel Portugal, a 70-year-old former Real Madrid scout, technical secretary and Castilla coach, gave an interview to AS ahead of this weekend's match between Real Madrid and Racing Santander. During the conversation, he discussed several players Madrid tracked over the years, including Neymar, Coutinho, Kroos, Modrić, Robinho and Vinicius.

Portugal revealed that there was a moment when Messi could have joined Real Madrid. "There was a time when we could have made a move," he explained. "He didn't have a professional contract with Barcelona yet, wasn't finishing his renewal, and someone close to him offered him to Madrid." He added that while the information reached the club that Messi was available, Madrid ultimately decided against pursuing the deal out of respect for Barcelona, despite the opportunity being genuine.