Lionel Messi highlighted his rapport with Neymar and Luis Suárez as a pivotal factor in Barcelona’s recent triumphs during an interview with FIFA.com, in which he also reiterated his desire to ply his trade in his native Argentina one day.
“I think it’s all down to the chemistry between the three of us, both on and off the pitch, and the type of people that we are too. We all want the best for the team, for the squad. That’s more important than anything else”, Messi stated with regard to the exploits of Barça’s MSN frontline.
Messi’s fine relationship with his strike partners was further reflected in his praise of them. “The fact is that I get on very well with Neymar. He’s said nice things about me ever since he arrived at the club. It makes me feel very happy to hear a friend and a colleague talk like that”, the Argentina captain said about the Brazilian.
As for Luis Suárez, Messi was loath to compare the former Liverpool man with the other number 9s he’s played with, but was equally complimentary about the Uruguayan: “What I can say is that he’s the best out-and-out forward there is in the game today. He has so much to offer the team and it’s a pleasure to play alongside him. We also have a very good relationship off the pitch and I’m very happy to be sharing everything with him”.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was philosophical about the dramatic turnaround that saw Luis Enrique’s side claim five trophies in 2015 having kicked off the year in turmoil: “Well, that’s football isn’t it? And anything can happen in football, and in a lot less than a year as well… luckily it ended up being a very, very good year for us”.
On a different note, ‘La Pulga’ admitted he still hopes to hang up his boots in Argentina: “I’ve always said that. It [playing in Argentina] was always my dream when I was a boy, though I had to leave at a very early age because of my situation and it didn’t happen. I had to go to Europe, start out with Barcelona and make my career there. But I would like to return to Argentinian football one day”.
