Lionel Messi Would Welcome Neymar Back at Barcelona

Will the Brazilian star wear the Blaugrana shirt ever again?

Since switching the Catalan capital for the capital of France 18 months ago, Neymar has been constantly linked with a potential return to the Nou Camp. And now, Barcelona’s captain and leader Lionel Messi has come out saying he would welcome back his former strike partner with open arms, online sportsbook news report.

The pair played together at the Nou Camp for four seasons between 2013 and 2017, during which time they formed a formidable partnership up front. Their game reached another level when Luis Suarez teamed up with them in attack in the summer of 2014, which saw them labelled as ‘MSN’ that went on to claim the Champions League (2014/15), two consecutive La Liga titles (2014/15 and 2015/16) and three straight Copa del Rey triumphs (2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17).

“It would be difficult,” said the 31-year-old. “We would love it if he came back for what he means as a player and in the dressing room. We are friends, we enjoyed nice moments, as well some which were so nice, but we spent a lot of time together. It is undoubtedly difficult to imagine him leaving Paris. PSG won’t let Neymar go.”

When asked about a (highly unlikely) move away from Barcelona himself following a downturn in fortunes in recent seasons, Messi immediately dismissed that notion and responded that he always strives to set himself new challenges depending on the demands of the particular season.

“I don’t need to change anything. I am playing for the best team in the world. My goals change from year to year. I don’t need to change team or league in order to find new objectives. I am at home, at the best team in the world and I don’t have any reason to want to change.”

Can PSG lift the Champions League this season?

PSG broke the bank in the summer of 2017 when they signed the Brazilian superstar for a world-record fee of €222m (which was his buy-out clause at Barcelona) all in efforts to win the biggest club football trophy in Europe – the Champions League.

His first season was quite fruitful as he made 30 appearances and scored 28 goals across all competitions, but his maiden campaign was cut short after suffering a serious injury that nearly saw him miss the 2018 World Cup in Russia. In the current, second season with PSG, Neymar already has 16 goals to his name from 19 appearances; he’ll likely beat his goalscoring numbers from the previous season if he continues scoring at this rate.

PSG are the only side capable of winning their domestic competition (Ligue 1), which leaves the Champions League as the only real ambition to fulfil. Online sportsbooks in France are giving the Parisiens fourth favourite odds 8.00 (7/1) to win Europe’s elite competition, behind the likes of:

• Man City 4.50 (7/2)
• Barcelona 5.50 (9/2)
• Juventus 7.00 (6/1)

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