Messi sends emotional message to Neymar

London : Lionel Messi has sent an emotional festive message to his former team-mate Neymar in which he admits Barcelona are still missing the Brazilian. 

Neymar left Messi and Barcelona to join big-spending Paris Saint-Germain in August for a world-record £198million fee.

The Brazilian’s move to Paris broke up the formidable South American front three of Neymar, Messi and Luis Suarez at the Nou Camp.

And Messi recalled moments the trio shared while they were all at Barcelona including times they drunk ‘mate’, a South American hot drink.    

 ‘Well, Ney... I think we said practically everything to each other when you left,’ Messi said in the Christmas message to his former team-mate.  

‘The truth is that here we are still missing you. We would like to keep sharing the mates [a South American hot drink] in the morning with Luis [Suarez] in the dressing room and many more things.

‘Like always, I wish you the best wherever you are and I’m sure we will cross again on or off the pitch very soon. Take care of yourself.’

Messi then reveals his Christmas present to Neymar, which appears to be a bottle of wine, saying he knows the Brazilian will like it.

Neymar responded to Messi’s video, warmly thanking him for the present and calling the Argentine ‘an idol’ and a ‘great friend’.

Messi and Neymar have not met on the field since the £198m move and Barcelona have avoided PSG in the draw for the last 16 of the Champions League.

Neymar has hit the ground running since moving to the Parc des Princes with 17 goals in all competitions for Unai Emery’s side, who sit top of Ligue 1.