How Getafe almost signed Lionel Messi and appointed Pep Guardiola

Getafe president Angel Torres has revealed in an interview with Marca that the club came close to signing two Barcelona legends. 

"In Messi's first or second year [with Barcelona's first team], we almost had a deal for him to come to Getafe on loan," Torres said. "In the end, Rijkaard didn't accept and we were left wanting." 

Torres assured that he had an agreement in principle with then Barça president Joan Laporta to sign the teenage Messi. 

The Getafe chief also said that he came close to appointing Pep Guardiola in 2008 before he was eventually given the top job at Camp Nou. 

"We were in Switzerland at the draw for the European competitions and I was speaking with Txiki [Begiristain]," he added. 

"The idea was that [Getafe coach Michael] Laudrup would take over at Barcelona and we would appoint Guardiola from their B team as his replacement because, at first, Laporta was not convinced by Pep." 

In the end, Barça appointed Guardiola and Getafe let Laudrup go anyway. He was replaced by another man with Barça links, Victor Muñoz. 

Torres boasted that he has a very good relationship with Laporta. "I hope he returns -- although I don't know if sequels are always good," he said. "I have always got on really well with him, he's a fun guy and it would be good to see him again."