Report claims Lionel Messi stopped Barcelona from siging Juventus’ Paulo Dybala

Report claims Lionel Messi could be the reason why Barcelona interrupted their raid for Juventus and Argentinian star Paulo Dybala this summer.

According to Spanish outlet Diario Gol claims that Messi exercised his vetoing powers over Barcelona, in order to prevent them from signing him.

The two players, who have a seven-year age gap, play in similar roles, and the report claims would not be compatible in the Catalan’s giants starting XI.

The Spanish outlet also reports that the tension between the duo is so strong that the Juventus star has often expressed how hard it is playing alongside Messi for Argentina, as they both play to occupy the same area in the field.

Barca are far from Dybala’s only suitors however, with other clubs reportedly interested in signing him away from Italy after five years in Serie A.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is said to be in search of a new forward as Gareth Bale’s time at Santiago Bernaebeu looks to be coming to an end, and Dybala and Tottenham’s Harry Kane are thought to be at the top of the list of the most suitable candidates.

According to the Daily Mirror, Premier League side Manchester United are equally ready to break the bank for Dybala, who would have the chance to reunite with former Juventus teammate Paul Pogba.

The Frenchman, who returned to the Old Trafford in 2016 in a £89m move, has recently expressed his admiration for Dybala and hailed his huge potential.

He said about him: “I call Dybala ‘Square R2’. That’s the combination you press on PlayStation to do a turn and shot. He always scores like that.

“Has he surprised me? No, because I always said he was a phenomenon.To do what he has done, playing for Juve, is something phenomenal.”