Lionel Messi reveals his closest Barcelona team-mate | OneFootball

Lionel Messi says he has a “special connection” with one of his Barcelona team-mates, and it’s not who you might think.

For the first time in his professional career, Messi is currently experiencing the strange sensation of playing for Barça without Xavi or Andrés Iniesta alongside him in the dressing room.

Xavi left Camp Nou for Qatari side Al Sadd in 2015, while Iniesta moved to Japan’s Vissel Kobe this summer, and Messi seems to be missing his old friends.

“Andrés and Xavi are unique,” the Argentine told the club’s official website.

“They made the game more colourful and brought more possession.”

But in the absence of those two legendary figures, Messi says he has formed a close bond with another Blaugrana colleague.

“Jordi Alba knows me to perfection,” he added.

“He knows when I will give him a no-look pass. I have a special connection with him.”

Spain international full-back Alba has been a great servant to Barcelona since he joined from Valencia in 2012, and it’s no surprise Messi rates him very highly.

But given the devastating partnership he’s formed with Luis Suárez in recent years, you’d think the Uruguayan would have been his closest ally on the pitch, wouldn’t you?

He did at least have some words of praise for his strike partner.

“He brings a lot to me and to the rest of the team,” he said.

“He leads us in creating pressure and provides strength to all of us.”