The mega deal would have been the biggest in football
history if it'd come off - and would have smashed the
£86m world transfer record that Real Madrid paid for
Gareth Bale.
The reports from Spanish television station TV3 claim that
Jose Mourinho tried his luck with a huge offer to lure the
Argentinian star to the Premier League.
The formal approach, which equates to €150m, was
rejected by the Catalan giants and Messi went on to sign a
new deal in May to keep him at the Nou Camp until 2018.
Chelsea raked in around £80m in the last transfer window
which would have given the Blues the financial clout to
complete the deal. It is being reported that Mourinho decided the time was
right to try and persuade Messi to leave Barcelona after he
suffered the most challenging season of his career.
The Argentine endured a string of injuries and was even
the subject of abuse from some of his own fans for what
they considered to be a below-par season.
Mourinho was able to sign Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa
and Filipe Luis in big-money deals over the summer.
Even without Messi, Chelsea have started well this term.
They've dropped just two points in five games on their
way to the top of the Premier League.
This isn't the first time Messi has been linked with a move
away from Barcelona.
The 27-year-old was thought to have asked former Arsenal
star Cesc Fabregas what life would have been like at The
Emirates as the roof fell in on Barcelona last term.
On the back of a poor season and a delay in negotiations
for a new contract Messi is thought to have cast his eye
around some of Europe's top clubs as he plotted an escape
route with his admiration for Arsene Wenger causing him
to ask the question to Fabregas.

Source: www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/401873/Chelsea-Lionel-Messi-Barcelona-bid