Former Arsenal Scout Reveals How the Gunners Missed Out on the Transfers of Lionel Messi and Jude Bellingham

• Former Arsenal scout Francis Cagigao has admitted the club attempted to sign Jude Bellingham and Lionel Messi
• The Gunners missed out on both transfers, with Bellingham joining Borussia Dortmund from Birmingham
• Cagigao has shed light on the transfers and provided insight on why the deals never saw the light of day

Details have finally emerged on how Arsenal missed out on signing Paris Saint-Germain superstar, Lionel Messi and Dortmund ace, Jude Bellingham.

Given their Premier League status, the Gunners are somewhat accustomed to attracting some of the world's biggest stars.

While the north Londoners have been able to land top signings in the past, they have also missed out on a number of targets.

According to TalkSport, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are among the players Arsenal unsuccessfully tried to sign during former manager, Arsene Wenger's reign.

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However, there are more players the north Londoners could not get in their books, with former scout, Francis Cagigao divulging they attempted to land Messi and Bellingham.

Arsenal missed signing Messi, Bellingham

Cagigao has now given his own account on how Arsenal failed to land the two football stars.

Now the sporting director of Chile, he revealed the club had scouted Bellingham when he was at Birmingham, but gave up on the transfer as the youngster was too expensive.

“I saw [Bellingham] for the first time when he was 16 years old. I wanted to sign him for Arsenal, but he was already too expensive," the 54-year-old said.

On Messi, Cagigao said:

“Messi’s situation was not regulated and it was impossible for him to have a work permit in the UK," he added.

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Cucurella's reaction Arsenal's new signing

Sports Brief also reported on Chelsea full-back, Marc Cucurella being in disbelief when he was informed Jorginho was joining Arsenal from the West Londoners.

After missing out on Moises Caicedo, the Gunners turned to the next best thing, with the Brazilian set to stay at the Emirates Stadium for the next 18 months.

Everything is all but done in terms of turning Jorginho into an Arsenal player, and he was pictured in the club's shirt on transfer deadline day.

Source: SportsBrief.com