Former Arsenal scout Francis Cagigao has revealed the reasons why the Gunners failed to secure the signings of players such as Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique, and Jude Bellingham in the past. According to Cagigao, the cost of Bellingham was too high at 16 years old, while work permit and bureaucratic issues prevented the club from signing Messi and Pique while they were with the Barcelona youth team. Cagigao stated that despite efforts to sign Messi, including meetings with his representative, the situation was not regulated and a work permit was impossible to obtain. In the case of Pique, a complex bureaucratic issue prevented the signing from taking place. Ultimately, the club signed Cesc Fabregas from the talented Barcelona youth team.
