{
  "id": 17354334,
  "title": "Transfer: 'Lionel Messi was offered to Real Madrid' - Portugal reveals",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/transfer-lionel-messi-was-offered-to-real-madrid-portugal-reveals",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-31T05:31:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/10/31/transfer-lionel-messi-was-offered-to-real-madrid-portugal-reveals/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2001, before Lionel Messi committed his future to Barcelona, Real Madrid had a chance to sign the Argentine superstar, as claimed by former Real Madrid technical secretary Miguel Ángel Portugal. Portugal, who served the club in various roles between 2007 and 2009, revealed this information while discussing other talents during an interview with Spanish newspaper AS. According to Portugal, someone close to Messi approached Real Madrid with an offer to sign the youngster when he had not yet signed a professional contract with Barcelona and was still finalizing his renewal with the Catalan club.\n\nPortugal stated that the club received information about the potential signing and had some contact with the player's representative. However, he clarified that Real Madrid did not consider pursuing the opportunity, emphasizing that they did not want to sever ties with Barcelona. The former technical secretary also mentioned that he could not independently verify the information shared with the club.\n\nMessi, who joined Barcelona's youth academy in 2000 at age 13, made his first-team debut for the Catalan club in 2004. He spent the next decade at Camp Nou, scoring 672 goals in 778 competitive appearances and winning eight Ballon d'Or awards. The reported approach by Real Madrid has reignited interest in one of football's biggest potential transfer stories that never materialized.",
  "summary": "Former Real Madrid technical secretary, Miguel Ángel Portugal has revealed that the Spanish giants had an opportunity to sign Lionel Messi in 2001, before the Argentine superstar committed his future to Barcelona. Portugal, who served Real Madrid in several capacities, including as a player, Castilla coach, scout and technical secretary between 2007 and 2009, made […] Transfer: 'Lionel Messi was…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "UAE Voted for Lionel Messi as 2026 Ballon d’Or Winner",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/uae-voted-for-lionel-messi-as-2026-ballon-dor-winner",
        "published": "2026-10-31T09:12:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}