“ We have to do it next season ”

Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar has told ESPN he wants to play with former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi again next season.

Messi, 33, is out of Camp Nou contract next summer and is free to talk to other clubs from January.

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Neymar, who was part of a powerful three front with Messi and Luis Suarez for four years with Barca, has been constantly linked with a Camp Nou return since leaving for PSG in a record € 222million transfer to 2017.

“What I want above all is to play with Messi again, to be able to enjoy him on the pitch again,” Neymar said after PSG’s 3-1 Champions League victory over Manchester United on Wednesday, when asked about the Argentine superstar joining him. in Paris.

“He can play for me, I have no problem with that! But I want to play with him next year for sure. We have to do it next season.”

Neymar’s comments will increase speculation that Messi could join him in the French capital in 2021.

Messi wanted to leave Barca in August after the Champions League 8-2 elimination against Bayern and sources told ESPN at the time that Manchester City led the race to sign him.

However, PSG were also monitoring the situation and coach Thomas Tuchel said the Argentine would be “very welcome” in Paris.

Barca hope they can convince Messi to sign a new contract with the club, but talks on a renewal are on hold until a new president is elected on January 24.

The new president’s first task will be to sit down with Messi and his father and agent, Jorge, and sell him his vision for the club to convince him to stay.

Neymar and Messi could also be reunited at Barca. the Blaugrana tried to re-sign the Brazilian star in 2019, but failed to strike a deal with PSG on fees.

Barca were considering making another attempt to bring him back this year as well, until the coronavirus pandemic hits their transfer plans.

Neymar also made a brief comment about his fellow South American Diego Maradona, who died at the age of 60 on November 25: “Life is sometimes very complicated because people who were supposed to be on leave forever and Diego had to to be an eternal figure. “