Carragher was eager to see Lionel Messi play in the Premier League.

Signing Messi doesn't guarantee success, according to Carragher. [Getty]

Ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher says signing Lionel Messi doesn't guarantee success.

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has revealed he was eager to see Lionel Messi seal a move to the Premier League.

The former England defender says he would have loved to watch one of the greatest to have ever played the game sign for Manchester City but not Liverpool.

Despite Carragher being a great admirer of Messi, he said signing the six-time Ballon d’Or winner doesn’t guarantee success.

He told Sky Sports: “If you are asking me as a lover of football if I wanted Messi to come to the Premier League then absolutely, yes.

“Did I want him to go to Man City? Yes, because I just wanted him in the Premier League.

“I wanted to watch him every week – and it would have been amazing.

“Did I want Liverpool to sign him? No. If I was a City fan, would I have wanted City to sign him? No.

“Standing back and looking at the numbers involved and the age of the player, I am not sure I would have wanted my team to sign him.

“I wanted Messi in the Premier League and if he had gone to City I would have been delighted.

“Would he have made City better? Of course.

“But Liverpool still beat Barcelona 4-0 - and Barcelona didn’t win the league this year and have not won the Champions League for a long time.

“We are talking about one of the greatest players, but just because you get him there is no guarantee of success.”

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