Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has revealed Espanyol were close to signing Lionel Messiwhile he was manager in 2005.

The Barcelona star will face Pochettino's Spurs in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

And speaking before the game, the Argentine explained how Messi almost joined Barca's local rivals before a quality showing during a preseason tournament changed his career path.

Pochettino said: "I started to hear about him when I was a player at Espanyol.

"A small guy, playing in the academy in Barcelona

"Then I heard he was so close to signing for Espanyol - very close - in the season Barcelona played against Juventus in the Joan Gamper (an annual pre-season tournament).

"I remember that summer.

"But, because he was so fantastic in the Joan Gamper, they changed their minds. They kept Messi at Barcelona.

"So, if you look back in history, maybe if he did not play in the Joan Gamper in that summer, maybe today he could have been the biggest star in Espanyol.

"Maybe I would still be at Espanyol managing him!"