Came close to sign Lionel Messi and Pep Guardiola: Getafe President
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According to Torres, he had a close relationship with former Barcelona president Joan Laporta through which he was close getting two of the most influential icons in the football world.
Getafe's president Angel Torres said that his club came close to sign Lionel Messi and appoint Pep Guardiola as a manager.
According to Torres, he had a close relationship with former Barcelona president Joan Laporta through which he was close getting two of the most influential icons in the football world.
"In Messi's first or second year [in the first team], we came really close to bringing him to Getafe on loan," Torres told Marca.
"In the end, [then manager Frank] Rijkaard didn't agree to it and we were left with just our desire.”
In 2008, Torres approached for Guardiola while he set to manage the Catalonia giants. He felt Guardiola would be an apt successor of Michael Laudrup. Laudrup was a potential candidate to manage Barca. Instead, Pep succeded Rijkaard at Camp Nou.
"One day, [Barcelona sporting director] Txiki [Begiristain] was at a European draw in Switzerland and the idea was that Laudrup would go to Barcelona and we would get Guardiola as a replacement because, to start with, Laporta wasn't convinced by Pep at all,” Torres said.
Under Pep, Barcelona won 14 major trophies, including three successive La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues trophies between 2008 and 2012.
Whereas, Messi continues his prolific professional career at Barcelona, scoring 627 goals in 718 appearances, winning a club-record 34 trophies.