Fabio Capello says Barcelona star Lionel Messi should be playing for Juventus in Saturday's Champions League final.

Capello admits trying to sign Messi as a teenager when in charge of Juve. The Russia coach first came across Messi in 2005 for the Gamper Trophy.

"I've never seen anything like him as a 16 year-old," recalled Capello. "At the end of the match I went to (Frank) Rijkaard to say they already had three foreigners in the workforce, they should release one.

"I wanted to sign Messi. I tried to buy him, but Barca wouldn't sell."

Capello added: "Before a game, you can plan for everything. But Messi can produce a move that no-one expects and change the game in an instant."