Messi's version of Neymar's Barcelona exit

Patrick Power 7 years ago 5.4k |

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Messi and Neymar were separated last summer. EFE

Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr share a special relationship, with the Brazilian looking up to the Barcelona star since the day he arrived at the Camp Nou. Together they contributed goals and magical link-ups, but it seems when it came to Neymar's decision to join PSG, Messi was left very much in the dark.

Gerard Pique and Xavi Hernandez both revealed that they were informed of the Brazilian's decision to leave Barcelona while they were at Messi's wedding to long-term partner Antonela Roccuzzo on July 1 in Rosario, Argentina. But the version Lionel Messi told 'ESPN' is another.

Messi was asked if he was aware of Neymar's departure during his wedding. "Honestly, no," he answered bluntly. "Until the last day of the tour [of the United States] we were talking and we didn't know anything. He said that he still wasn't clear what to do and he didn't know what he was doing."

Both Messi and Luis Suarez tried to convince Neymar to stay, but he had made up his mind to follow through with the record-breaking £198 million move to Paris, leaving behind his teammates and friends.

"Others said they knew. But right until the last minute, we were speaking to him," Messi concluded.

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