Messi behind Barcelona's Neymar plan
Barcelona risk losing Lionel Messi if they fail to agree to Neymar transfer demand
Messi is driving the pursuit of his £198million ex-strike-partner Neymar from PSG.
Neymar spent four years at Barcelona with Lionel Messi, who is said to be pressing for the PSG superstar to return. The last time Barcelona won the treble, they had that 'MSN' up front.
It is clear Messi believes his route back to the Champions League is not just Neymar specifically, but more people supplying goals around him.
Messi told Barca: "If you want me to sign a new contract, first renew Neymar.” Before they sit down to negotiate, he wants the front line to be reinforced with Neymar.
Neymar is also said to be pushing for a return to Camp Nou, having regretted the decision to leave.
“Messi is believed not to be a stroppy player — people have portrayed him as such falsely but when he sneezes, Barcelona catches a cold,” Spanish football expert, Graham Hunter, said.
Given the acrimonious nature of Neymar's departure, with PSG paying his €222 million release clause, it will not be easy for the Brazilian to return to Barcelona.
His departure was a shock with Barcelona unused to seeing their best players depart, particularly for a league that is widely regarded as being inferior.
La Liga chief, Javier Tebas, however, does not want Neymar to return to Barcelona
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because of his off-the-field conduct at Paris Saint-Germain last season. He stated, “I prefer that Neymar does not return to Barca. We have worked a lot in La Liga to maintain the values and we don't want to change the image."
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