LIONEL MESSI sent Neymar a text “pleading with him” to return to Barcelona ahead of the summer transfer window, according to reports.
Neymar looked set for a move back to his old club all summer but after Paris Saint-Germain reportedly slapped an eye-watering £273million price tag on the Brazilian, the move fell through.
But if it was up to the 27-year-old’s ex-team-mate Messi, the two would have been reunited at the Nou Camp.
The Argentine superstar made his feelings clear to Neymar in a text that said Barca needed him back to stand any chance of winning the Champions League, according to French outlet L’Equipe.
And it was this that sparked Neymar’s push for a move away from PSG, according to the French publication.
But after the Spanish transfer window slammed shut yesterday the Brazilian had not moved anywhere.
That led to PSG chiefs reportedly meeting with the club’s ultras to tell them not to abuse the wantaway star.
Former Manchester United and West Ham left-back Patrice Evra also claimed “genius Neymar is treated like a murderer but PSG would miss him”.
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The Barca switch was so close, Neymar’s sponsor even shared a picture of him in the Catalans’ latest kit before deleting it.
PSG eventually brought in Mauro Icardi as attacking reinforcement.
But now Neymar has stayed put, the French champions boast the most expensive attack in history.
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