Arsene Wenger: We tried to sign Messi.

FORMER Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, revealed that the club got very close to signing 6 times Ballon d' Or winner, Lionel Messi.

The Frenchman who was the brain behind the signing of Thiery Henry still regrets missing out on the Argentine footballer.

Speaking at an event for the Twinning Project on Monday night at the London Palladium, Wenger said:

“Messi we were interested in, but it was not possible, They [Barcelona] had Fabregas, Messi and [Gerard] Pique in the same generation. We tried to get [them]. Messi was not possible, Barcelona extended it [his contract]. Fabregas wanted to leave, Pique as well"

“He [Pique] landed at Manchester United and Cesc joined us. I refuse to go into that game because if I go into my room and write on the wall all the players I miss out on, I don’t finish well my life.”

Arsene Wenger after his role as Arsenal manager is now serving as FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development.