- Barcelona star forward,.Lionel Messi, has admitted that he does not want to see his friend join up with rivals Real Madrid next season
- Messi played alongside Neymar for four trophy-laden seasons at Camp Nou
- The Argentina captain also told Barcelona chiefs that he does not see a future at the Nou Camp for Marco Verratti
Barcelona star forward,.Lionel Messi, has admitted that he does not want to see his friend join up with rivals Real Madrid next season.
Neymar moved to Paris Saint-Germain last summer in a record-breaking €222m deal, but rumours have swirled around his future all season.
Goal.com however reports that the 26-year-old is unhappy in France and has been linked with Manchester United, as well as a shock move to Real Madrid.
Messi played alongside Neymar for four trophy-laden seasons at Camp Nou, and confessed it would be difficult to see his friend join Barcelona's fierce rivals.
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The Argentina captain while speaking to TyC sports said: "It would be terrible because of everything that Ney means to Barcelona,"
"Although [Neymar's time in Barcelona] ended the way it did, he won important titles here, he won the Champions League, he won La Liga.
"If he ends up in Madrid it would be a tough blow for us and for all of Barcelona.
"And on a football level, it would make Madrid much stronger than they already are."
Also, in a news credited to Daily Star, Messi told Barcelona chiefs that he does not see a future at the Nou Camp for Marco Verratti.
The Italian has long been held by Barca bigwigs as the ideal man to replace Andres Iniesta.
And with the Spanish legend leaving at the end of the season, there is a huge void in the middle of the park that will be left open.
There is of course options for Barcelona, Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic remain whilst Andres Gomes is still at the club.
Paulinho, who signed last summer, has also played a big role in the Catalan club’s success this year, playing in 49 games this season.
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But that has not stopped the top brass at Barca looking at world-class replacements for a man that has spent his entire career at the Nou Camp.
And Verratti has been earmarked as the perfect candidate, but there is a snag.
NAIJ.com previously reported that departed Paris Saint Germain coach Unai Emery has responded to speculation linking Neymar to Manchester United and Real Madrid, Express reports.
The Brazil international is being linked with the heavyweight clubs ahead of the summer transfer window.
But Emery now how stated that Neymar will remian with the Paris giants.
Source: Naija.ng