Laporta: Inter wanted Messi

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed that he turned down a bid in the summer from FC Internazionale Milano for Lionel Messi.

Messi has recently extended his Barca contract to 2016, which has a buy-out clause of more than £200million.

But Laporta confirms that Inter chief Massimo Moratti did indeed try to sign Messi, a favourite to win the Ballon d’Or later this year.

When asked in Corriere dello Sport if Moratti had expressed an interest in buying Messi, Laporta said: “Yes he did.

“But there is nothing to talk about. Messi is not for sale, he (Moratti) must forget about it.

“Massimo is a very successful businessman, but for how he behaves, especially a gentleman.

“Between us is born a beautiful friendship from the first meeting because he speaks to me as a brother.

“He has great human values, listens to others, but is also appealing and full of humour. This have made easier the exchange between Ibrahimovic and Eto’o.”