Miguel Angel Portugal said Lionel Messi could have swapped Barcelona for Real Madrid in 2001, but the move did not happen. His account set out why a deal was possible and why it did not go through.
A chance in 2001
Portugal said: "There was a moment when we could have moved to sign him, as he did not yet have a professional contract with Barcelona, and the negotiations to renew his contract had not been settled, and at that time one of the people close to him proposed his move to Real Madrid"
What reached the club
Asked how real it was, Portugal said: "I do not know whether it was true or not, but the information reached the club, to the effect that it was possible to move to sign him."
Why it did not happen
Portugal said: "The opportunity really did exist. The club did not want to sever its relations with Barcelona, but there was indeed a rapprochement. Nevertheless, I believe he would not have taken that step out of respect for the relationship between the two clubs."
Where the remarks appeared
GOAL said Mundo Deportivo picked up Portugal's remarks from an interview with AS.
