LIONEL MESSI confirmed Neymar and PSG stars jokingly told him ‘come to Paris’ as they holidayed in Ibiza.
Messi fuelled speculation of a move to the French capital when he posed alongside Neymar, Angel Di Maria, Leandro Paredes and Marco Verratti.
And the Argentine legend admitted the PSG players did their best to convince him to join them in France.
Messi, 34, said: “Coincidence? Completely. I met them in Ibiza, we met them one day, got together and we’re friends.
“I was going to meet Paredes and Di Maria. Ney called me and said, ‘Do you want to see me?”
“We uploaded the photo in that moment because we were having a good time and there was a joke at the time, they kept telling me, ‘Come to Paris, come to Paris’.
“It was just a joke, that was all.”
Messi is international team-mates with Di Maria, 33, as well as Paredes, 27, and also spent four years with Neymar, 29, at Barcelona.
And the pair are close to linking up again with Messi closing in on a move to PSG after his sensational Nou Camp exit.
Messi broke down in tears as he bid farewell to his boyhood club of 20 years at a press conference.
And it was there he confirmed interest from PSG, but admitted his future is not yet finalised.
Messi said: “It is a possibility, but as of today there is nothing agreed with anyone.
“When the statement came out, I had many calls, various clubs were interested. But I have nothing closed yet. But we are talking.”
According to ESPN, Messi’s move to PSG is all-but agreed and subject to a medical ‘tonight or tomorrow’ before signing the deal.
It is believed French giants PSG have offered the Argentine legend a two-year deal, with the option to extend it by a further 12 months.
Barca had confirmed in a statement that ‘economic and structural obstacles’ had prevented a deal being ratified by LaLiga.
It meant they were unable to keep hold of their most prized possession, with PSG now ready to pounce.
Messi had pushed to leave only one year ago, but after a change of hierarchy at the club, he was convinced to stay.
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And he had agreed to extend his contract this month until Barca’s efforts were scuppered by LaLiga due to financial fair play rules.
Messi cried as he thanked supporters, leaving the club with 672 goals in 778 appearances.
He said: “I’m so grateful for the love people have shown me these years.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
