Lionel Messi at Lazio! Pedro reveals he invited former teammates to Rome

Former Barcelona winger Pedro has revealed that he tried to persuade star teammates like Lionel Messi and David de Gea to join Italian club Lazio during his time there. The 38-year-old Spaniard played his final match for the Serie A club on Saturday and spoke about his recruitment efforts during his tenure in Rome. This is reported by Goal.com reports .

Pedro scored in his farewell match for Lazio against Pisa, contributing to his team's victory. In an interview with the club's official YouTube channel, he confirmed that his adventure in the Italian capital has come to an end. For the veteran, who made 209 appearances and scored 39 goals for the Romans, this season was somewhat disappointing — the team finished ninth in Serie A and missed out on European competitions.

Beyond his actions on the pitch, Pedro admitted he also unofficially acted as a "scout." He tried to bring stars like Lionel Messi, David de Gea, and Jordi Alba to Lazio. "I always tried. I even talked to Messi, but it wasn't easy (laughs). Then I called Jordi Alba and David de Gea when they were free agents. I also remember talking to Sarri about Bartra and David Luiz," says Pedro.

Pedro leaves Italian football as one of the most decorated players in the world. He is a World Cup and European Championship winner with the Spain national team. At the club level, he won three Champions League titles, five La Liga titles, and two FIFA Club World Cups with Barcelona. He also triumphed in the English Premier League and the Europa League with Chelsea.

For now, the veteran winger has not announced his next destination. In his farewell message, he called on the club, fans, and the team to unite. "I am sure that in a few years, Lazio will return to a level where they compete for trophies and make their mark in Europe. I hope that one day I will return to help the team," added the Spanish star.