Which is the greatest soccer team to ever assemble? It is quite difficult and debatable to come up with a definite answer. Anyhow, most pundits and fans believe it was Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona from the 2008-09 era. When Guardiola chased his first continental treble in 2009, Lionel Messi was at the center of Barcelona’s attack, forming one of the greatest coach-player duos in soccer. However, back in the day, Barca could have lost both Guardiola and Messi to their Madrid-based rival Getafe in a surprise move. As per Getafe’s owner, Angel Torres, the club nearly brokered a move for both of the Barca veterans.

In the 2008-09 season, the then-Barcelona president was not initially ready to appoint Pep Guardiola as the club’s boss. Instead, he favored Michael Laudrup for the role. However, Laporta’s changed his mind and gave Guardiola the reins and the latter eventually won 14 trophies with Blaugrana.

Biggest ‘what if’ in La Liga: Getafe owner speaks about failed Messi and Guardiola move

Getafe’s failed attempts to poach Barcelona of Lionel Messi and Pep Guardiola became a talking point in Angel Torres’ interview with El Partidazo de COPE. “We were in Europe, we went to the draw and Txiki [Bergistain, ex-Barca director] was there, who told me that they were thinking of Laudrup to coach Barça and I said that I would talk to Guardiola,” said Angel Torres (translated by DeepL). He continued, “We met one morning in the VIP lounge at the airport, but everything was rushed, Rijkaard was sacked and instead of Laudrup, Guardiola was chosen. He was willing to come to Getafe.”

Soon he shed light on how close Getafe got to securing Lionel Messi. “I also asked Laporta for Messi. I was with Laporta and Zubizarreta and they said that Rijkaard was going to give him minutes, but we were on the verge,” said Torres. Leo Messi impressed Italy’s Juventus and Getafe shortly after he debuted in 2005. Both clubs wanted to acquire him on a loan move. Getafe got closer than Juventus, thanks to Torres and Laporta’s friendship. However, Frank Rijkaard pulled the plug on Messi. Thanks to Rijkaard, Messi would start chasing unparalleled success after Guardiola joined Barca in 2008.

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The Lionel Messi and Pep Guardiola era: Barca’s greatest years

Barcelona was the first senior team ever coached by the now Manchester City boss. Then, Guardiola started strongly, winning a sextuple (six major titles) in 2009. Lionel Messi won his first-ever Ballon d’Or in 2009. Thereafter, he added three consecutive Ballon d’Ors till 2012, when Pep Guardiola completed his Barca stint. In four years, Messi and Guardiola secured 14 titles, including yet another Champions League victory in 2011.

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Nowadays, Barcelona struggles to make the best of their archrival, Real Madrid. However, it was not the case when Blaugrana had La Pulga and Pep in their camp. Then Barca won nine out of their 15 matches with Madrid, including commanding 5-0 and 6-2 victories. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.

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