Lionel Messi refuses contract renewal until Barcelona meets his demand, according to reports from Spain.
Barcelona are pursuing Neymar with great vigor this summer. The Catalans are keen to bring him to back to the Camp Nou and are looking for ways to raise the required funds. They have already brought Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid and are yet looking to bolster their frontline.
Also read: Marcelo prefers Brazilian teammate over Hazard at Real Madrid
Spanish football expert Graham Hunter has told SkySports that the reason behind this frenzied chase for the Brazilian forward is apparently Lionel Messi. The Argentine has been the driving force behind the pursuit. He believes that he can play a major role in helping Barcelona lift it’s 6th Champions League trophy. In fact, Messi has reportedly refused to sign a contract renewal until Neymar is successfully bought back in.
He said:
“Messi is a central player in all of this. Messi is not a stroppy player – people have portrayed him as such falsely. But when he sneezes, Barcelona catches a cold.
“[Josep Maria] Bartomeu, the president, has said before he leaves – and he must quit the club in 2021 at the latest – he wants to leave Messi renewed once more.
“Whether Messi is saying ‘get me Neymar’ or whether he’s whispering ‘before we sit down to negotiate, I want the front line reinforced with Neymar’, the fact is: Messi wants Neymar back.
“He, [Luis] Suarez and Neymar – even though they’re different characters – are very friendly. Messi found a partner that understood him technically, who served him and who created masses of space. The last time Barcelona won the treble, they had that ‘MSN’ up front.
“It’s clear Messi believes his route back to the Champions League isn’t just Neymar specifically, but more people supplying goals around him. Messi is saying ‘if you want me to sign a new contract, first renew Neymar’.”
https://twitter.com/GMS__Football/status/1152529494537834496
Barcelona have attempted to replace Neymar with Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho in the last two years. However, they have both failed to replicate the success Neymar bought them. Messi, who has a powering presence, is now growing desperate for European glory as he advances in age. Knowing very well that he will slowly fall into a decline as he slips from the peak of his prowess, the Argentine is determined to bring Neymar back to Catalonia and believes that he can help turn their fortunes around.
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