LIGA - Simeone wanted to bring Messi to Atletico with help from Suarez

If it had been up to Diego Simeone, Lionel Messi would have been an Atletico Madrid player this season. The Argentine superstar left for Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, but could have also changed clubs within Spain.

Simeone has tried to seduce his illustrious compatriot with the help of Luis Suarez. The two developed an intense friendship at Barcelona and Messi was not happy when the Uruguayan striker had to leave last season. "When things started happening in Barcelona, ​​I called Luis. I asked him if he wanted to contact Messi to see if he would be interested in a transfer," the coach told Diario Ole.

Hopes of a possible transfer from Messi were quickly dashed, Simeone confessed. Immediately after Barca confirmed that the attacker would not be given a new contract, Paris Saint-Germain struck. "They were obsessed with Messi," said the coach, who was able to take over Suarez from the Catalan superpower last year.

Messi did not come, but the club now picked up another player from the seaside resort. Antoine Griezmann returned to the reigning national champion of Spain after a few seasons. Currently, the team is joint first with fellow city rivals Real Madrid and Real Sociedad with seventeen points from three games.