In an amazing turn of events today, Leyton Orient pulled off the transfer coup of the January window and possibly the millenium when O's chairman Barry Hearn announced to a packed to the rafters press conference in the club's Olympic suite that newly crowned world player of the year Lionel Messi had joined the lowly league one outfit on loan for two months.
Hearn explained the incredible move came around because Messi's father is a lifetime fan of the club, after travelling to London to watch Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa play for Tottenham in the 1980s, but a mix up at Liverpool Street train station saw him arrive at Leyton on the central line instead of Tottenham on the overground, and a Peter Kitchen and Laurie Cunningham inspired win over QPR endured him to the East London team forever.
The move follows the Thierry Henry rejoining Arsenal on loan and Paul Scholes coming out of retirement to rejoin Man United until the end of the season.
Messi is not the first big signing to grace Brisbane Road under the chairmanship of Mr Hearn, he follows in the footsteps of Peter Shilton who played his 1,000th professional career game under the gaze of the sky cameras v Torquay, Ray 'Tango'Wilkins and England centre-half Alvin Martin.
There was also a recent attempt by Pandamonium editor Matt Roper to sign Wayne Rooney when it looked like he might part ways with Manchester United.
This deal is subject to insurance, but could provide vital cover for manager Russel Slade if captain Stephen Dawson moves onto championship side Barnsley. Messi will be in East London for the whole of February and March and return to the Nou Camp on April 1st.
