Barcelona star Lionel Messi was "very close" to joining Espanyol in 2005, according to Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Messi, 31, was still in the early stages of his senior career at the time, but ended up staying at Camp Nou and developing into one of the best players of all-time.
Pochettino – then in the latter stages of his playing career at Espanyol – said Messi almost joined the club after impressing against Juventus in the Joan Gamper Trophy.
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"I started to hear about him when I was at Espanyol – a small guy playing in the academy in Barcelona," Pochettino said ahead of his team's clash with Barca in the Champions League on Wednesday.