Lionel Messi has 'told Neymar when he will leave Barcelona' | OneFootball

We could be coming to the end of Lionel Messi’s time at Barcelona.

Messi has, so far, spent his entire career at Camp Nou and it’s difficult to imagine him playing for anyone else.

But the little Argentine genius will turn 33 in June and it seems he could be leaving Barça in 2021.

At least, that’s according to a sensational story by France Football, who claim to have seen a very interesting WhatsApp conversation between Messi and his former Barcelona team-mate Neymar.

The conversation is supposed to have taken place after the Blaugrana were knocked out of the Champions League by Liverpool last season and in it, Messi is said to have urged Neymar to leave Paris Saint-Germain and return to Camp Nou last summer.

“Only together can we win the Champions League,” Messi is alleged to have told the Brazilian.

“I want you to come back. In two years, I’m leaving, and you’ll be alone, you’ll take my place.”

When Neymar left Barça in a world record transfer to PSG in the summer of 2017, reports at the time claimed the 27-year-old was leaving because he wanted to escape Messi’s shadow.

Of course, a return to his old stomping ground ultimately never materialised this summer and France Football claim both Kylian Mbappé and Marco Verratti were both practically begging the forward not to leave.

Neymar reportedly does not have a very good relationship with PSG sporting director Leonardo and though he is expected to stay in the French capital for the remainder of this season, negotiations about a possible return to Barcelona could well re-open next summer.

Whether he does end up going back or not, it seems we have less than two more years left of Messi at Barcelona.

The article did not state where Messi would move to.

Enjoy it while it lasts.