In 2013, before Real Madrid paid a world-record fee for Gareth Bale, Los Blancos had another target: Lionel Messi.
In a sensational report published in Der Spiegel, based on documents from Football Leaks, Real Madrid were prepared to activate Messi’s €250 million release clause and to offer Messi €23 million per year until 2021, and to give his father, Jorge Messi, a further €1m.
Madrid transmitted the offer to Messi via the player’s lawyer, Iñígo Juárez, who relayed the information to the Argentine and his father.