This archive report was first published on 12 September 2019.
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has expressed his desire to have Neymar return to the club this year, citing the Brazilian's ability to take the team to the next level.
According to Messi, Neymar was eager to rejoin the La Liga champions, but the deal ultimately fell through due to the high asking price from Paris St Germain.
"The truth is I would have loved him to come back to us," Messi told Spanish newspaper Sport on Thursday, September 12, 2019.
"I understand some people were against it and that's normal considering everything that happened and how he left us, but thinking about it on a sporting level, for me Neymar is one of the best players in the world.
"Obviously he would have increased our chances of getting the results that we all want. The club would have taken a leap forward, in terms of sponsors, our image, our growth, but in the end it didn't happen," Messi added.
