Arsene Wenger has revealed how he once tried to sign both Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique from Barcelona, however the moves were scuppered by the player’s agents.

The Frenchman made the shock admission when talking about the signing of Cesc Fabregas from the Catalans over a decade ago.

Fabregas joined the Gunners as a youngster in 2003, and quickly established himself as a first team regular, becoming the club’s youngest ever player and goalscorer in his first few months in North London.

“The story of Cesc Fabregas is that Franny Cagiago and Steve Rowley brought the player here and we had to convince him,” he told Arsenal.com.

“I met Cesc’s parents and at the time we were interested in Messi and Pique as well. We tried for the three but of course it didn’t work out, but we got a gem there in Cesc and he is an exceptional player. A brain for football.”