Ex-Barcelona president claims record-shattering €400m transfer bid was readied for Lionel Messi

Barcelona's Lost Opportunity

Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has revealed that the Catalan giants narrowly avoided losing Lionel Messi in a world-record move shortly after Neymar's departure.

The Mystery Club

Bartomeu claimed that an unnamed club was ready to trigger the Argentine's massive release clause using funds from the Middle East. The ex-Blaugrana chief revealed this information in a candid interview with Cadena SER.

• The proposed transfer bid was reportedly worth €400m.
• The club that made the bid was not Man City.
• The bid came after Neymar's departure to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.

"it wasn't Man City" - Josep Maria Bartomeu

Preventing a Potential Exodus

Bartomeu detailed how the hierarchy at Camp Nou became aware of a massive financial operation designed to snatch Messi away from Spain.