Messi was once offered to Real Madrid before Barcelona renewal, says Miguel Angel Portugal

Former Real Madrid player and scout Miguel Angel Portugal says the club had an opportunity to sign Lionel Messi in 2001, before the Argentine had agreed a professional contract or finalised renewal terms with Barcelona.

Portugal, 70, made the revelation in an interview with AS, reported by Mundo Deportivo. He also played for Real Madrid, coached Castilla and worked as a talent scout and technical secretary at the club.

Asked which players he had recommended to Real Madrid, Portugal said Neymar and Philippe Coutinho had regularly featured in the club’s reports.

“We followed Neymar and Coutinho, and the recommendation to sign them was always there,” he said. “The reports on both players are still in the club’s archive.”

Portugal also recalled watching Toni Kroos at the age of 16, when the Germany international was playing as an advanced playmaker.

“We saw Toni Kroos when he was 16 and he was playing as an advanced playmaker,” said Portugal. “I told him one day: ‘I have reports about you here.’”

He also discussed Luka Modric, whom he had monitored early in his career.

“The same applies to Luka Modric,” he said. “When he started his career, he was a little slight physically, but he developed a lot in England, and that had a very positive effect on him.”

Portugal said he first watched Brazilian forward Robinho at the Copa Sao Paulo de Futebol Junior, when the player was still a child.

“Yes, I followed him at the Copa Sao Paulo de Futebol Junior when he was a child, just as I followed many other players,” he said. “But the skill he possessed was different.”

Comparing Robinho with Vinicius Junior, Portugal added: “For example, when it comes to Vinicius’ ability, Vinicius relies on his pace and taking on defenders, whereas Robinho stood out for his imagination and technical ability.”

Portugal then explained how Messi could have become a Real Madrid player.

“There was a moment when we could have moved to sign him,” he said. “He did not yet have a professional contract with Barcelona, and negotiations over a renewal had not been concluded. At that time, someone close to him offered him the possibility of moving to Real Madrid.”

“I do not know whether it was true or not, but the information reached the club and it indicated that it would have been possible to act and sign him.”

Portugal said the opportunity was genuine, although Real Madrid did not want to damage its relationship with Barcelona.

“The opportunity really existed,” he said. “The club did not want to break its relationship with Barcelona, but there was indeed an approach. However, I believe he would not have taken that step out of respect for the relationship between the two clubs.”