Inter Miami captain, Lionel Messi, has revealed that he turned down the opportunity to play for the Spanish national team.
Messi, speaking on the Miro de Atras podcast, claimed he was approached during his early years at Barcelona.
However, according to the 39-year-old, his heart was always set on representing Argentina.
Messi left Argentina for Catalonia as a boy for Barca’s academy.
“There was a moment when something was mentioned from Spain,” he said.
“I’d been in Barcelona since I was very young, so it wasn’t strange. But my desire was always to play for Argentina.”