Superstar Lionel Messi is not at all optimistic about Barcelona\u2019s chances of attempting to dangle carrots in front of Neymar to lure his former strike partner back to the Camp Nou from Paris Saint-Germain. The Brazilian forward swapped Barcelona for Paris in 2017, becoming the most expensive player of all-time after the Ligue 1 giants activated a \u00a3199.5million release clause in his contract.<\/p>\n
News has been rife of Neymar being heavily linked with a return to the club ever since, and Messi\u2019s unease at Barcelona has also given rise to rampant speculation that he is also angling for a move out. The Barcelona talisman is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with non-Spanish clubs from January 1st although on the surface it appears that the Argentine has seemingly settled his dispute at the Camp Nou and is thought by some to extend his deal.<\/p>\n
The return of Neymar to the club would certainly help convince Messi to stay but the Argentina captain says the financial situation at the Camp Nou will make any transfer impossible.<\/p>\n
\u2018How do you pay Paris for the transfer?\u2019 Messi asked.<\/p>\n
\u2018It is not easy, it will be a difficult situation for the new president. He will have to be very intelligent, get everything in order and make many changes to make it go well.<\/p>\n
\u2018It will also be difficult to bring in players because we need money and there is no money. There are several important current players we need to fight again for everything and you have to pay them.\u2019<\/p>\n
Neymar had expressed last month that he wished to play with Messi again, with no clarification of where that would happen, in Paris or Barcelona. Messi was also cautiously coy about Neymar\u2019s comments, insisting that it was only a declaration of his desire rather than a plan.<\/p>\n
\u2018He didn\u2019t say, \u2018Let\u2019s play,\u2019 he said, \u2018I\u2019d like to play\u2019 \u2026 right?\u2019 said Messi.<\/p>\n
\u2018Yes, we talk from time to time. The three of us either with him or with Luis [Suarez] every day. We maintain the relationship.\u2019<\/p>\n
Whatever real game plan Messi and his bosom buddy Neymar have up their sleeves, only time soon will tell. Until then, it\u2019s still everybody\u2019s wild conjecture where these two would finally end up next season.<\/p>\n
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