Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed that Inter made an attempt to buy Argentina striker Lionel Messi during the summer.
When asked if Internazionale president Massimo Moratti had expressed an interest in buying Messi, Laporta told Corriere dello Sport: “Yes he did.”
“But there is nothing to talk about. Messi is not for sale, he (Moratti) must forget about it.”
In September, Messi signed a new contract with Barcelona that will keep him at the European champions until 2016 and includes a massive €250 million buy-out clause.
After signing the contract the 22-year-old forward said: “I want to spend my entire career here, in Barcelona, if it’s possible. I would love to finish at Barcelona.”
Inter eventually sold Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Barcelona during the summer in a €60 million transfer that saw Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o head in the other direction.
Christmas special offer – Subscribe to World Soccer magazine today and Save up to 32%
