Revealed: Real Madrid have failed to sign Barcelona star Lionel Messi three times

REAL MADRID have three times tried to lure Lionel Messi away from Barcelona, according to reports.

 

Real Madrid see Messi as the only replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo

 

The 28-year-old superstar has been with Barca since he age of 13 and made his debut just three years later.

And having become one of the world's greatest players, Spanish journalist Joseba Larranaga is claiming that Madrid approached Messi about a move for the first time in 2011.

Speaking on national radio station Cope, Larranaga claims Madrid were worried that a massive bid from Manchester City would tempt Cristiano Ronaldo to leave.

 

Through a third-party meeting, Madrid tabled the idea of Messi coming to the Bernabeu but they were quickly told that the Argentinian would not be moving.

Two years later and Manchester United were this time the club unsettling the Madrid hierarchy with rumours of a fairytale return to England for Ronaldo.

The Portuguese had added fuel to the fire by admitting he missed the Premier League and failing to sign a new contract over the summer of 2013.

 

This time, Los Blancos sent a club executive in person to try and woo Barcelona, who had just signed Brazilian Neymar, into parting with Messi.

But the answer again came – NO.

 

And then in 2013, Madrid made yet another attempt although without any real expectation of success and were promptly knocked back.

The Argentinian forward has racked up 432 goals in 507 appearances for Barcelona, and while rumours of his departure continue to circulate, a move to the Spanish capital looks as unlikely as it ever did.