Until Lionel Messi announced on Wednesday that he will continue his career at Inter Miami in the United States after his time at Paris Saint-Germain, where he had to live with the suffocating mistreatment of the ultras, few knew what the new club was going to be after the -no- proposal with emotional charge of Barcelona and the mountain of tickets that Al-Hilal put on the table of Saudi Arabia. One of the members of that small and select group that already knew where the captain of the Argentine National Team would continue his career was the Brazilian Neymar.
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Leo is one of my best friends," said the Brazilian star in an interview with NBA Brazil. Their relationship is long-standing and was strengthened when both shared the squad at Barcelona, where they formed the well-known MSN forward that also integrated the Uruguayan Luis Suárez.
Neymar became one of Messi's closest people, both on the pitch and in his private circle off the pitch. This was one of the key points for Ney, in advance, to know Lio's next destination in his professional career.
Messi and Neymar, friends are friends after the end of the season with Paris Saint Germain.
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I already knew that. Messi is a gift that football gave me. I had the opportunity to meet him, to play with him and then we became friends. I already knew he was coming to Miami and we talked about it," confessed the 31-year-old Brazilian while talking in the interview.
Messi expressed it in the interview published by the Catalan newspapers. One of the several reasons that led Messi to disembark in the luxurious city of Miami is the tranquility that can bring both his family and him. In addition, being Major League Soccer (MLS) less competitive than the European high performance, he opted not to live the uncomfortable moments he spent at PSG. Knowing that in the United States he will have more comfort, was a reason for joy for Neymar. "I told him I would be very happy for the city and the way of life," he said.
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I'm sure it will change the whole league. It will become a much more popular league. I think everyone should take advantage to see him play because unfortunately nothing is forever," Ney said in the interview, implying that Leo's professional career has a short-term expiration date.
Neymar said he knew the club Leo will play before it becomes official. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
The "Messi effect" quickly began to show. One of them is the number of followers that grew the account of the Herons that, at the time of announcing Leo, had about one million followers and happened to have about seven million after three days.
Neymar lost one of his biggest accomplices both on the pitch and off. Although few days have passed since Lio's departure, his absence is already being felt. "It will be very good and obviously it was a bit bittersweet to see him go," Ney concluded.
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