Messi at Atlético? Simeone tried to lure the Argentine star over Luis Suárez

Lionel Messi has been a PSG player since the summer, but Atlético Madrid were also interested in him. Coach Diego Simeone revealed this in a recent interview with Argentine daily Ole.

It would be a big shock for Barcelona. However, there could be such a possibility in the game as well. Atlético Madrid were interested in Lionel Messi this year after acquiring Luis Suárez last year. However, the acquisition of the Argentine did not work out.

In fact, the Barcelona legend signed for French side PSG in the summer, where he is still trying to acclimatise.

Diego Simeone, the coach, spoke about Atlético’s interest and tried to fit Luis Suárez, Messi’s good friend, into the role of “agent”.

“I didn’t call Leo directly, I tried to ask Luis Suárez how Messi was doing, how he would like it and if there was any chance of him coming to us,” the Argentine strategist was quoted as saying.

“It was something that took about three hours in total because PSG had already practically got his signature. So the chance to work with Messi never came,” Simeone added.

And why was Simeone interested in Messi in the first place? The reason is obvious: “If you ask me where Messi should play, then I answer that in a team that wants to win. In a team that knows what it has to do to win. It doesn’t matter what position you play in. What matters is the team set-up.”

Then again, Simeone himself hasn’t even been in direct contact with Messi, hence any signing was indeed unrealistic.

Source: Ole