Messi is looking for a new club after leaving Barcelona and former teammate Neymar wants to reunite with the six-time Ballon d’Or winner at Paris Saint-Germain this summer
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Lionel Messi ‘wanted to stay’ says Barcelona president
Neymar has reportedly offered Lionel Messi his No. 10 shirt as talks of Paris Saint-Germain bidding to sign the Argentine hot up.
It was announced on Thursday to the shock of the footballing world that Messi would leave Barcelona after 21 years following an issue with his contract renewal.
Despite agreeing to take a pay-cut to remain at the Nou Camp after his current deal had expired, La Liga’s strict financial regulations prevented Barca from re-signing their star due to their disastrous financial predicament.
Now, Messi is seeking pastures new and PSG are the heavy favourites following their pursuit of him last summer when he initially wanted to leave the Blaugrana for a new challenge.
Old friend Neymar swapped Catalonia for the French capital in 2017 for £198million, taking the No. 10 shirt.
It was given to him by Javier Pastore and now the Brazilian is willing to let Messi take it off his hands in a move he hopes will help convince the six-time Ballon d’Or winner to sign, according to RMC Sport, via Get French Football News.
Having last met in the Copa America final in July – which Messi’s Argentina came out on top – the pair spent four years together at Barcelona.
They made up two thirds of the famous ‘MSN’ trio – Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar – which fired them to the 2015 Champions League title.
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Following the Copa America defeat, Neymar posted on Instagram regarding his ex-teammate: “Yesterday when I lost, I went to give a hug to the biggest and best in history that I’ve seen play.
“My friend and brother Messi, I got sad and told him ‘son of a b*tch, you beat me’ I’m too sad to have lost,” the 29-year-old explained.
“But this guy is a crack! I have a lot of respect for what he did for football and especially for me.
“HATE TO LOSE!!! But enjoy your title, football was waiting for you at this moment!”
He even told ESPN in December: “What I want most of all is to play with Messi again, to be able to enjoy him once again on the pitch.
“He can play in my place, I have no problem with that,” he admitted.
“But I want to play with him next year, for sure. We have to do it next season.”
Neymar may well get his wish if Messi opts to reunite with his former partner and Argentine manager Mauricio Pochettino in Paris.
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