CHEEKY Fabio Capello mischievously tried to sign Lionel Messi as a teenager – but was sternly warned off by Barcelona.
The retired Italian football boss first came across the Argentine maestro when he was a fresh faced 18-year-old with the Catalan giants.
When he was in charge of Juventus, Capello faced Barcelona in the Nou Camp in the annual Joan Gamper Cup – a pre-season tournament involving foreign teams.
It was in August 2005 and Juventus eventually won on penalties in front of more than 91,000 fans.
Following a sensational individual display, a young Messi caught the eye of the experienced coach Capello, who made an immediate beeline to speak with Barcelona hierarchy about a potential loan agreement.
According to ex-president Joan Laporta, word spread quickly after that match about this young talisman and the next year Serie A side Inter Milan tested the resolve of Barcelona with a €250million bid – which was flatly refused.
Capello, 75, told SunSport: “It was the first tournament before the start of the league.
“He played this game and after half an hour, I went over to the Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard.
“I said: ‘Frank, is it possible to give me this player?’
“Rijkaard replied: ‘No, no, no. He is with us.’
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“He was incredible, he was 18 years old and he did things like now.
“In my mind, there is Pele, Diego Maradona and then Messi. Because these are three geniuses.
“There are other players, who are super players, extra class, but the genius is different. They made something that you did not think.
“Next I would say is Ronaldo, the Brazilian one, the Phenomenon.”
Fans will have the wonderful opportunity tonight to watch PSG maestro Messi, 34, in action for Argentina against Italy at Wembley.
The Finalissima features the 2021 Copa America winners against the European champions on neutral ground.
Italy may have won the title at the same stadium last July – unfortunately they beat England on penalties – but Azzurri boss Roberto Mancini and his troops are still smarting from missing out on the Qatar World Cup Finals.
They also missed out on Russia in 2018 and they need a big rebuild.
Capello believes Mancini, the former Manchester City manager, is the right man to lead his nation and should be given time.
Capello said: “To miss the World Cup is more than disappointing. It is impossible to think that Italy will not play for the second time at a World Cup.
“This first game against Argentina will be important and Mancini will decide to put in some new players. This is important for the future.
“Sometimes you think one player is good but then the shirt of the national team is heavy.
“It is really important to reform the spirit of the group.
“We won the title but for the World Cup qualification we didn’t play with the same spirit.
“It is possible that sometimes when you win something you are happy, too happy, you think ‘we are the Champions’ but you lose the humility.
“And when that happens you make mistakes, you go down.”
Fabio Capello is promoting Premier Sports, the exclusive UK broadcaster of The Finalissima match Italy v Argentina. They will broadcast 400 live matches from the Uefa Nations League and European Qualifiers for Euro 2024. Premier Sports is available on Sky, Virgin TV and the Premier Player from £9.99 per month and on Amazon Prime as an add-on subscription.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
