Messi also trashed recent rumours of the 32-year-old leaving Barcelona at the end of the season.
Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi waves before the 54th Joan Gamper Trophy friendly football match between Barcelona and Arsenal at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on August 4, 2019. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)
Barcelona star Lionel Messi feels that the Catalan side did not go all out to bring Neymar back to the club and could have done a little more to bring the Brazilian back after negotiations did not materialise with the 27-year-old’s present club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
“I would have loved Neymar to have rejoined the club,” Messi was quoted by Marca as telling to Sport.
“Honestly, I don’t know if Barcelona did everything possible to ensure his return. However, it is certainly true that negotiating with PSG isn’t easy,” said the Argentine, adding, “On a sporting level, Neymar is one of the best in the world. The club would also have taken a leap in terms of the level of image rights and sponsors.”
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It is to note that Neymar cost PSG a world record 222 million euro in August 2017 when he joined the French club from Barcelona.
Asked if he had a say in Barcelona thinking to bring Neymar back, Messi said: “I never asked for the signing of Neymar. All I did was give my opinion.
“I’m not disappointed (that he didn’t sign). We have a have a spectacular squad, which can compete for everything, even without Neymar.”
There was a lot of talk over Neymar — who hasn’t had the greatest of time at PSG — returning to Barcelona where he enjoyed a great partnership with Messi and Luis Suarez.
Neymar, who hasn’t had the greatest of time at PSG, was talk of the town as Barcelona were trying hard to retain the Brazilian talisman.
Meanwhile, Messi also trashed recent rumours of the 32-year-old leaving Barcelona at the end of the season.
“This is my home and I don’t want to leave. But I want to win,” Messi said
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