Lionel Messi was supposedly told his club Barcelona that he would like to see Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin, Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho, Monaco’s Bernardo Silva and Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Verratti join him this summer.
The superstar is believed to have a strong influence within the running of the club, and is often asked his opinion on potential targets.
Messi has now put forward four names that he would like to see join him at the Nou Camp.
Bellerin has been linked with a return to his boyhood club for some time now, mirroring the saga which surround Cesc Fabregas during his rise to fame with Arsenal previously.
The defender is constantly asked his opinion on speculation with a move back to Catalonia, and is always professional in praising his former side, as well as remaining adamant that he is loyal to Arsenal.
Coutinho is another name who has been strongly linked with a switch to Barca this term, following a very impressive start to the campaign, but his team dropped swiftly out the title race, and has been dire so far in 2017, and the star has shown very little in recent months.
Bernardo Silva is enjoying a thoroughly impressive season with Monaco, helping his side to lead the Ligue 1 table on goal difference, albeit with a game in hand, as well as helping his side to keep their Champions League hopes alive with a 3-2 away win over Borussia Dortmund to give them one foot in the semi-final stage.
Verratti is not enjoying his best season for Paris, having had a 4-0 first-leg lead overturned by Barca in the Champions League, as well as struggling to chase down Monaco in the league thanks to a shaky start to life under new manager Unai Emery. He looks likely to finally leave the club this summer, and may well get the chance to join Messi in Spain.
Can Barca afford all these names? Does Bellerin have his price? Is our defender happy enough in North London? I know he claims to be…
Pat J