Revelation: Pekerman Acknowledges Spain Prepared Paperwork for Messi

Then Barcelona’s emerging star, Lionel Messi, was on the verge of representing Spain at the U20 World Cup in 2005 until coach José Pekerman intervened.

A Critical Decision

He shared with Ole:

With the paperwork for his registration with the Spanish U20 team nearly complete, we knew we had to act fast.

On June 29, 2004, Pekerman arranged a friendly match to safeguard Messi’s Argentine future and prevent his engagement with Spain. The plan was simple: participate in the friendly, complete the registration, and forward it to FIFA.

Insights from Spain

Pekerman recounted:

We received insights about Leo Messi during an Under-17 tournament in Finland, where he had donned the Spanish jersey. The coaching staff indicated that having him on the squad would significantly enhance our chances of victory.

He continued:

I informed Tocalli that I was thoroughly impressed, claiming he was destined to be a future star. I reaffirmed my belief; he represented a new era for Argentine football, a rare talent.

Strategic Moves

Pekerman noted:

Tocalli had discussed the preparations for the upcoming South American Under-20 Championship scheduled to kick off shortly. My concern was how to justify adding a player last minute. However, I insisted that it was crucial for him to merely play a friendly, complete the paperwork, and submit it to FIFA. That would ensure he remained solely with Argentina. I communicated this to the president, conveying our urgent need to reach out to Barcelona.

The Friendly Match

Pekerman further stated:

I instructed Don Julio (Grondona) to find an opponent, ensuring Tocalli stayed informed, with one stipulation: the match had to take place at the Argentinos Juniors stadium, given Diego’s historical ties there.

The friendly match eventually took place, with Messi sporting the Argentine colors, leading to a resounding 8-0 victory over Paraguay.