adminBARCELONA. — Lionel Messi has bid Neymar farewell and “good luck” as the Brazilian edges closer to completing a world record move to PSG. Barcelona have confirmed that Neymar has asked for permission to leave the club, with PSG expected to complete a £198m transfer early next week. Messi and Neymar formed two thirds of the so-called “MSN” strike-force that has wreaked havoc on Europe over the past four years, scoring 364 goals as triumvirate.
“It was an enormous pleasure to have shared all these years with you friend Neymar,” Messi wrote, alongside a video montage of the pair’s highlights as team-mates and friends.
“I wish you luck in this new stage of your life. I love you.”
The Brazil superstar Neymar is set to seal a world-record £199million transfer from Barcelona to PSG in the coming hours.
Neymar made a brief visit to Barca’s training ground yesterday to inform them of his wish to leave the club, departing before their training session began.
And Barcelona team-mate Messi has reacted by posting a moving Instagram video made up of pictures of the pair.
Alongside it he wrote: “It was an enormous pleasure to have shared all these years with you friend @neymarjr I wish you luck in this new stage of your life. See you tomorrow.”
The former Santos player has a contract with Barca until 2021 but PSG, deposed by Monaco as French champions last term, appear prepared to activate his release clause.
That would more than double the existing world record fee of 105m euros, then worth £89m, that Manchester United paid Juventus for Paul Pogba last summer.
A club statement read: “Neymar Jr, accompanied by his father and agent, has informed FC Barcelona this morning of his decision to leave the club in a meeting held at the club’s offices.
“Faced with this position, the club has informed them they refer to the buy-out clause of his existing contract which as of 1 July totals 222million euros, which will have to be deposited in its entirety. — The Daily Express.
Online Reporter