The press of Germany and Spain reported on a deal that could have shaken the football world in 2013.
According to "Der Spiegel" and "El Mundo", Madrid's "Real" seriously considered activating the 250 million euro buyout clause specified in the contract of Barcelona's leader Lionel Messi and thereby acquiring the Argentinean.
The sniper himself would have been paid a yearly salary of 23 million euros, with the contract valid until the summer of 2021.
It is claimed that the "Real" club, using their connections, would have pressured the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to make a favorable decision in the tax evasion case of L. Messi.
The player's family received such an offer, however, an agreement was not reached and "Real" decided to acquire Tottenham representative Gareth Bale instead.
