Lionel Messi’s selfish decision makes Neymar’s arrival at Barcelona impossible

Barcelona may not be able to land their biggest target after all.

Barcelona are going to set to have a revolutionary summer as they look to make extensive changes to their roster. While attackers and defenders continue to be their chief targets, it is widely expected that the midfield has the newest look come the start of next season. As such, Quique Setien will sell off players he doesn’t want and recruit some newer ones.

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Arturo Vidal and Ivan Rakitic are being linked with moves to newer pastures since a few months. With that in mind, Barca are keen on signing a midfielder with Miralem Pjanic continuing to be a big target. The negotiations for the Bosnian are taking tiny steps as a result of Juventus’ demands.

Juventus getting rid of Pjanic is being forecasted by most, but whether that will be to Barcelona or some other club remains to be seen, primarily because the Italians want Arthur Melo in exchange. The Brazil international has had a lackluster campaign but is still in the good books of his managers despite being tipped to be sold.

Diario GOL has now claimed that Lionel Messi does not feel that its right to give more time to the former Gremio midfielder and has therefore asked the Catalan giants to get rid of him. This is a major boost for Barcelona considering the fact that they will get their hands of Pjanic after all, but it may indirectly complicate matters as Neymar’s return to the Camp Nou becomes doubtful.

Neymar’s desperation of wanting to return to the Camp Nou for another long-term spell is no confidentiality and to be honest, one of the reasons why he was thinking of coming back to Barca was indeed to reunite with Arthur. Moreover, even Paris Saint-Germain were keen on bringing the 23-year-old to convince their record-signing to stay for longer.

In spite of being linked with a major transfer as well as a big move to Turin, it is expected that Arthur stays at the Camp Nou or heads to the Parc des Princes instead as that would mean he unites with Neymar, as well as some of his other compatriots like Thiago Silva and Marquinhos. What Messi has said may be true, but the La Liga outfit must think about the repercussions of showing the door to Arthur.

Do you see Arthur’s departure impacting Barca’s quest of landing Neymar?