Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay told the story of how he nearly missed out on getting Lionel Messi's shirt after a Champions League game in 2019.
According to McTominay, Messi initially refused to give him his shirt as he mistakenly believed that it was the young Scotsman who had elbowed him when in fact it was Chris Smalling.
"When we played against Barcelona, Chris Smalling elbowed Messi and he had blood coming out of his nose," McTominay told ESPN.
"I said to Sergio Romero, 'can you ask Messi to get his shirt?'. Sergio came back in and said, 'He thinks you were the one who elbowed him on the halfway line'.
"I said: 'No, no, no, tell him it wasn't me and make sure I get that shirt because that's going in my bedroom'. So he knows it wasn't me now."
Scott McTominay needed an assist from Sergio Romero to get Messi's shirt 😅
(via @alexisenunes) pic.twitter.com/NaJeRlIjOm— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 1, 2021
A delighted McTominay eventually ended up with the famous number 10's shirt and when asked who he thinks the best player in the world is, he said, "Messi, 100 per cent".
Barcelona won 1-0 at Old Trafford that night in 2019 through a Luke Shaw own goal before securing a 3-0 victory at Camp Nou in which Messi scored a brilliant brace.
Victory in that tie of course meant that Barca faced off against Liverpool in the semi-final.
The Blaugrana beat Liverpool 3-0 in the first leg, only for Jurgen Klopp's side to famously bounce back with a 4-0 home victory.
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