Lionel Messi believes former Barcelona teammate Neymar regrets leaving Camp Nou to move to the French capital.
Speculation was rife over the summer that Neymar wished to make a swift return to the Blaugrana, having failed to settle in his surroundings at Paris Saint-Germain.
Barca, along with Real Madrid, were thought to be battling out for the Brazil international’s services but ultimately PSG were able to keep hold of their prize asset, who has made a strong start to the season.
Messi, who is getting back closer to his best after a spell out with injury, feels Neymar regrets his initial call to leave Catalonia and can understand why some people would not want the former Santos starlet back at the Camp Nou after the manner of his departure.
“I think so [he regretted the decision], shortly after he left he realised that he was wrong and that he had made a bad decision,” he told radio station RAC1. “It would be necessary to ask him but, knowing him and seeing what happened, I think so [he regretted leaving].
“Having had him on the team would have given us more options but I understand that the signing of Neymar is not only looked at for sporting reasons but also for having left the way he did. There are those who didn’t want him to return – it’s understandable. It was complicated.”
Barcelona, who currently find themselves in second place in the La Liga table behind arch-rivals Real Madrid, are back in action October 19 when they travel to Eibar.