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Mauricio Pochettino has brushed off Brendan Rodgers' claim he thought he had a done deal to take Dele Alli to Liverpool – and pointed out Espanyol almost signed Lionel Messi.

The Tottenham boss was playing at the La Liga side when the club explored a loan move for the teen Barcelona star in 2005.

But it came to nothing, just like the hours then Reds boss Rodgers spent talking to MK Dons youngster Alli in a bid to take him to Anfield, only for the midfielder to head to Spurs instead.

And after Alli's wonder goal in Saturday's win over Crystal Palace, Pochettino is understandably enjoying having the 19-year-old at his disposal rather than caring about what might have been.

(Image: Action Images via Reuters / Matthew Childs)

In pictures - Crystal Palace 1-3 Tottenham:

He said: "Do you know how many players in football are close to signing for many clubs? It's only one comment from some manager. Dele Alli now is here.

“We were close at Espanyol to signing Lionel Messi – a centimetre. Unbelievable but this was true.

(Image: AFP/Getty)

"Messi was 17, playing for U18s and very close to signing for Espanyol. It was close but it never happened.

“In football it's always 'if, if, if' but in football it's about reality. It's not about maybe what could have happened.”