Gerard Pique has claimed that Arsenal tried to sign Lionel Messi but had 'no chance'. The Gunners signed midfielder Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona's youth team in 2003.

The Spaniard made over 300 appearances for Arsenal during eight years in north London before returning to the Catalan capital in August 2011. And former Barcelona defender and Spain international Pique has claimed that Fabregas was not the only prodigy from La Masia that the Gunners were trying to sign.

He claims that former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger wanted to sign him as well as legendary Argentine forward Messi. "The summer before I left to join Manchester United, Arsene came to sign me at that time," he told the BBC's Euro Leagues Podcast.

"Arsenal didn't want to get into a big fight with Barcelona because they already took Cesc at that time.

"So they kind of were trying to arrange a deal with Barcelona and it took more time than what we wanted to. So Manchester United arrived and said, 'listen, we want you so let's take a decision right now' and I decided to go there.

"And it's true that later on, I think that Arsene tried also to sign Messi, but he didn't have a chance. So the good thing about that is all of us went back and played for the Barcelona first team."

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Messi is regarded as one of the greatest footballers to ever play the game. The 36-year-old has scored over 700 goals during a distinguished career that has included four Champions League trophies and a World Cup win in 2022.

The Argentine was also a thorn in the Gunners' side on numerous occasions in Europe. Messi famously scored four goals against Arsenal in April 2010 during a quarter-final second-leg fixture at the Nou Camp.