Agent Gaggioli reveals Real Madrid and Arsenal attempted to lure Messi away from Barcelona

Gaggioli played a crucial role in facilitating Messi's signing for Barcelona as a young player.

He recalled on Kooora: "Real Madrid were interested in him when he was young, he was 16 or 17 years old, but Leo never wanted to leave Barcelona.

"Yes, Arsenal showed interest in signing Messi early in his career, but he didn't want to leave Barça."

The agent was at the restaurant when Messi, now with Inter Miami, signed that famous napkin to commit to Barca.

He added, "That handkerchief was not a contract, but a commitment to sign the player. That handkerchief was the reason that changed the modern history of Barcelona and that of Messi."