Lionel Messi made his feelings clear on the prospect of Neymar joining him at Inter Miami.
Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi has been plying his trade with Inter Miami since last summer alongside former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez.
And the veterans’ impact in the Sunshine State has been laid bare by their record start to the 2024 campaign, topping the Eastern Conference with 35 points in 18 games.
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Their success, coupled with Neymar’s torrid start to life in the Saudi Pro League due to injury, has prompted suggestions the Brazilian could also join Miami, and reunite with former strike partners Messi and Suarez.
However, in an interview with Infobae Messi dismissed the idea of Neymar imminently moving to Miami.
When asked about the prospect of the winger joining up with his former team-mates, Messi said: “No, I don't know. The truth is that it is difficult now, he is in Saudi Arabia, and he has one more year left on his contract, it seems to me.
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“He went through a difficult year, where he was injured for a long time, which has left him out of the Copa América as well,
“Now it's difficult. Afterwards, I don't know, the truth is that life takes so many turns that anything can happen, but I don't think that today, no .”
Messi added: “We talk often. He speaks perfect Spanish. We talk often, we even have a group, the three of us, with Luis too.”
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Elsewhere in the interview, Messi named Real Madrid and Manchester City as the two best teams in the world.
"Real Madrid is the best team in the world, they have won the Champions League. If you go by results, Real Madrid is the best," Messi admitted. "If you go by the level of the game, I think Manchester City are the best."
He added: "I personally like Guardiola's City. I think that any team where Guardiola is will be special because of the way he is, the way he trains and the way he works. He makes his teams play."
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Topics: Lionel Messi, Neymar, Inter Miami, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, Real Madrid, Manchester City
Chris Byfield