Saturday, 29th December, 2012
Anzhi Makhachkala coach Guus Hiddink has denied speculation from Spain that the Russian side offered €250M to sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona recently.
It had been suggested by Spanish daily El Mundo Deportivo that astonished Barcelona officials fielded a bid of a quarter of a billion from an unnamed Russian side, with Hiddink's Anzhi Makhachkala instantly being mooted as possible bidders.
But the Dutchman has insisted that, if indeed such a bid was lodged for the Argentine, it did not come from the Dagestan giants, who are trying to build their club on more than just big money signings.
"There is no truth in that", said Hiddink to Russian daily Sport-Express.
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"Asking this question, let alone writing about it, shows a lack of understanding about how the sporting model of the club is designed and what our principles and priorities are."
If the mega bid was made for Messi, the search for which club was behind it will now have to go on, following Hiddink's denial.
It also seems clear that no matter what amount is offered for Messi, the record-breaking Argentine sees his future at the Camp Nou and nowhere else.
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