Lionel Messi's Planned Meeting with PM Modi: The Jersey Gift That Never Happened

New Delhi:

Argentinian football icon Lionel Messi, who concluded his GOAT India tour today, had consented to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and had even purchased a jersey as a gift for him, former Union Minister Praful Patel revealed in an exclusive interview with NDTV's Shiv Aroor.

"I had already made a request and spoken to Messi's office expressing our desire to call on the Honorable Prime Minister," Patel stated.

The football superstar's agreement to meet PM Modi was significant, Patel suggested. "Messi is naturally a very shy person. He typically avoids meeting country leaders... However, upon my request, he had agreed to visit the Prime Minister," Patel explained.

"It would have been a truly picture-perfect moment. The Honorable Prime Minister engaging in dialogue with Messi, perhaps kicking a ball together, or Messi autographing a ball or jersey for him," said Patel, the former president of the All-India Football Federation.

According to Patel, Messi had specifically brought a jersey for the Prime Minister's 75th birthday. "That was something he wanted to personally present as a gift," he mentioned.

Patel emphasized that the meeting would have been more than just a photo opportunity. Such interactions are "necessary," he noted.

"An interface between decision makers and figures who can promote the sport should happen. This wouldn't have encroached on any public time. Not a minute would have been taken away from his scheduled concerts or interactions with the general public," Patel added, stressing their awareness that people had purchased tickets to see the football star.

Unfortunately, the meeting never materialized as the Delhi portion of Messi's tour coincided with PM Modi's scheduled visit to Jordan.

Speculation regarding Messi's meetings with celebrities and political leaders intensified following his abbreviated visit to Kolkata's Salt Lake stadium, where his program was reduced from one hour to merely 20 minutes.

Messi was quickly escorted out of the stadium on Sunday morning after being surrounded by an excessive number of people – politicians, police officers, VIPs, and their staff.

Subsequently, disappointed fans who had come to see the football legend became upset and began damaging the venue, throwing chairs and bottles while vandalizing stadium property.

The government of Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has initiated an investigation into the incident. Sports Minister Aroop Biswas has temporarily stepped down to ensure an impartial investigation, and the state's top police official, Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, has been issued a show cause notice by the government.