There have been weekly rumors regarding Lionel Messi’s future at Barcelona ever since news broke in the summer transfer window that he aspired to leave the La Liga side. Messi is set to become a free agent next year, as he will then be able to leave the club without any side having to post a transfer fee to acquire him. Manchester City was regularly linked with the Argentine forward over the summer transfer window, and now Paris Saint-Germain is occupying the Messi headlines.
PSG forward Neymar recently made public comments about wanting to reunite with Messi, and since then, there has been much speculation about such a reunion coming to fruition.
Josep Maria Minguella is one person in the footballing world who knows Messi quite well. He once represented the Argentine and even played a key role in bringing the forward to Barca.
Minguella did take notice of Neymar’s declaration about aiming to once again play alongside Messi, and in an interview with Le Parisien, he provided his take on how one can interpret the Brazilian’s comments about Messi.
“One thing is certain, Neymar’s best years in soccer, the moment when he was most fulfilled, was when he was at Leo’s side at Barca,” Minguella said. “They won everything together, had a lot of fun, and enjoyed themselves together on the field.
“Leo also wants to play again with Neymar. The desire is mutual. He has been trying to get Neymar back at Barca for several years. On several occasions, he has suggested it to his managers. There is a common will and desire to be teammates again because they are competitors. They know that they will have more opportunities to win titles by being together. But at the moment, there is nothing concrete.”
Minguella does not know Messi’s current state of mind in regard to his future at the Catalan club, but he does believe that the Barca star would have some interest in joining PSG.
“For the moment, no one knows what he will do,” Minguella said. “Not even him. Leo is not going to suggest or say anything until he is sure of himself. He had a very bad experience with his false start this summer and he doesn’t want to go through it again. My impression is that he feels very well in Barca and that he will wait for the result of the presidential election on Jan. 24. Depending on the new president’s sports project, he will decide whether to negotiate an extension or to go free.
“It is a possibility. There is Neymar, Di Maria, many Spanish-speaking players. But I think he hasn’t even thought about it today. His priority at the moment is to see if he can stay at Barça with a sports project that will bring the club back to the top of world football. One thing is certain, it will be him and only him who will decide whether or not to stay.”
The Messi to PSG rumors sure will continue to carry on.
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