Lionel Messi and Pep Guardiola both came close to joining Getafe, according to a claim made by the La Liga side's president, Angel Torres.
Messi made his debut for Barca in 2004 and, after impressing against Juventus in a 2005 friendly, the Italian club made a move to sign the young Argentine.
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Around the same time, Torres says Getafe nearly brokered an agreement to borrow Messi from Barca, only for then-coach Frank Rijkaard to pull the plug at the last minute.