Lionel Messi was a target for Arsenal when he was coming through the youth ranks at Barcelona, Arsene Wenger has revealed.

The Gunners made a swoop to pick up 16-year-old midfielder Cesc Fabregas from the Catalan club’s famed La Masia academy in 2003.

Wenger admitted that the Premier League club were keen to sign Argentina’s star in the making with former clubmate Fabregas, but he was already considered indispensable by Barça at the time.

‘We were in discussions with Barcelona when we bought Fabregas, because Messi played [with him],’ Wenger told beIN SPORTS.

‘You can realise sometimes what fantastic youth teams you had before when you’re a club like Barcelona. In the same team: Messi, [Gerard] Pique and Fabregas.

‘Pique and Fabregas came to England, Messi stayed in Spain.

‘We were interested in him, but he was untouchable at the time.’