Lionel Messi’s message to Neymar: Barcelona man pens public tribute to PSG-bound star

LIONEL MESSI has penned a public tribute to PSG-bound Neymar.
The Brazil superstar 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 today 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.”

NEYMAR TO PSG: LIVE UPDATES ON HUGE BARCELONA TRANSFER

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.




FIVE THINGS ABOUT BRAZIL STRIKER NEYMAR

1. Family first

Neymar is guided by his family. His father, Neymar Santos Sr, is his agent, is a former player himself and earned his son his first sponsorship deal at the age of 17. Neymar has a tattoo of his sister Rafaella Beckran’s face on his arm, while in turn she has Neymar’s eyes on hers.

2. Nearly the Real deal

He has made his name with Barcelona but could have joined Real Madrid as a 14-year-old. He travelled to the Spanish capital but said he chose the “cultural values” of growing up in his home country. He described it as “my first serious choice”. Resting the pressure of moving to Europe was not always easy. Neymar Sr told the New York Times how strangers would approach him in the street and tell him to send his son overseas.
3. Never blowing bubbles

He scored his 100th professional goal on his 20th birthday in 2012. By this point, the Santos man had been the subject of interest from West Ham, with the player himself admitting he had talks with the club’s hierarchy via video link-up.

4. Star of the silver screen

In June 2016, Vin Diesel said that Neymar would be starring alongside him in the action film Return of Xander Cage. He went on to play himself. In the film, a character played by Samuel L Jackson tries to recruit Neymar to join the National Security Agency. His fame extended to him being named on the TIME 100 list of the most influential people in the world – the only footballer on the list.

5. Sneaker freak

Neymar is a keen collector of trainers and once spent more than £14,000 on them in one shopping trip. He has his own collaboration with Nike and basketball great Michael Jordan, the ‘Air Jordan v Neymar’. He described meeting the six-time NBA champion as one of the happiest moments of his life.

Source:www.express.co.uk