Andres Iniesta reveals Lionel Messi blocked deal for Real Madrid ace
Posted Friday, February 23, 2018 by Express.co.uk
Andres Iniesta has revealed Lionel Messi stopped Barcelona from signing Isco
ANDRES INIESTA has reportedly revealed Lionel Messi stopped Barcelona from signing Isco the summer the playmaker joined Real Madrid.
Isco has spent the last four-and-a-half years at the Bernabeu after joining Real from hometown club Malaga.
And during that spell he's won 12 trophies, including the La Liga title once and the Champions League on three occasions.
Isco's move to Real back in 2013 came amid interest from a host of top clubs, including Barcelona and Manchester City.
The latest reports from Spain suggest Iniesta has told team-mates Messi is the reason Barcelona allowed the 25-year-old head to Madrid instead off snapping him up.
According to Diario Gol, Iniesta said Messi was opposed to Barca signing Isco because they had himself, Xavi and Cesc Fabregas on their books at the time.
The Argentine apparently felt adding Isco into the mix would mean there was too much competition for a starting spot in midfield.
However, Messi's reservations were supposedly not isolated to on-field concerns that would arise from Isco's arrival.
Messi is said to have had doubts about Isco's character, which has provided pitfalls during his time at Real.
The former Valencia ace made Real sweat last year before signing a new deal, fuelling speculation of a potential move to Barcelona or City.
Messi and fellow senior players allegedly stepped in to stop Barcelona moving for Isco then too.
Isco's said to have rubbed his Real team-mates, as well as manager Zinedine Zidane, up the wrong way this season to add to his bad-boy image.
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