Chelsea were most interested in bringing Barcelona legend Lionel Messi to Stamford Bridge, it has been revealed, after a report in the Express suggested the club launched a bid in the region of £118 million bid to lure the striker away from Camp Nou.

Messi’s career has been one of the most talked about in decades, as the player is not just a footballer but also a brand for the sport. Hailing from the world renowned La Masia youth academy at Barcelona, Messi was touted to become one of the best in the sport, despite his short height. Football has become demanding for players these days, and with a diminutive stature, several strikers have struggled, but Messi has never let it become a problem in his career. For the past decade, all managers of the Spanish giants have framed their tactics around Messi, and the Argentine has never failed to amaze the crowds with his goalscoring prowess. The 27-year old has scored a total of 248 goals in the Spanish league from 283 appearances. His partnership with midfield legends Xavi and Andres Iniesta has gone down in the history books as one of the best ever, but the attacker continues to deliver despite the midfield duo ageing and approaching retirement soon.

The Blues have the financial resources to finance a transfer for Messi, but it will be difficult to convince the player to shift clubs after more than a decade of loyalty to the Catalan giants not to mention having to learn a new language and adjust to a new culture.