Former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell said he would try to sign Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar as he is the second-best player in the world behind Lionel Messi.
Neymar left Barca for PSG in a world-record €222 million ($246m) transfer in 2017, but the Brazilian forward continues to be linked with a return to Camp Nou.
The 28-year-old failed to make his way back to La Liga champions Barca at the start of the 2019-20 season and he is reportedly a transfer target again.
Rosell was president when Barca signed Neymar from Santos in 2013 and the 56-year-old heaped praise on the Brazil international.
"If I were the president of Barca, I would try to sign Neymar," Rosell told COPE and Radio Marca.
"He is the second-best player in the world after Messi and fits perfectly into the philosophy of the club.
"But with experience, he would sign him with two contracts, one sports and the other behavioural."
Since swapping Barca for PSG, Neymar has won three successive Ligue 1 titles, to go with Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue and Trophee des Champions honours.
Neymar scored 13 league goals before Ligue 1 was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic and PSG were eventually declared champions.
Barca, meanwhile, have been tipped to sign Inter star Lautaro Martinez in the off-season.
However, Inter have insisted Martinez will not be sold unless his release clause – reportedly worth €111m ($123m) – is met.
Rosell however believes Barca shouldn't pay such a high fee and instead try to work out a swap deal of some kind.
"I would not sign Lautaro for €111 million but I would try to exchange two players," Rosell said.
La Liga has been cleared to return on June 8 following its suspension in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Barcelona currently hold a two-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid.
Another former Barcelona president, Joan Gaspart, recently claimed La Liga would have been cancelled if Zinedine Zidane's side were top of the table when the season was suspended.
"If Madrid had finished as leader before the confinement, La Liga would have ended," he told Tertulia del 10 del Barca.
cr7saqf
564
autty has forgotten that he scored 4 goals with Cristiano last day only
Thiago_Jr_
446
Yeah true Neymar is 2nd best player because 1st position is jointly held by Messi and Ronaldo
Chinyumba
304
People still underrate what Ronaldo has done, I'm a full time Messi fan but put some respect on that guy
Mosanya
105
Messi is the only player better than Neymar:- CR7 plays Golf, Lewandowski plays basketball, Mbappe plays rugby, Salah and Mane are actors. This man started watching football backwards.
NouCampArmy
88
Me being a Barca fan will call this damn ridiculous ,Neymar isn't better than Cr7 at all.Only Messi and cr7 are the two best players on football world None come close them neither Neymar nor Mbappe nor Lewandowski.
abraenchelney
17
Messi is the only player better than Neymar:- CR7 plays Golf, Lewandowski plays basketball, Mbappe plays rugby, Salah and Mane are actors. This man started watching football backwards.
Hater
Messi-goat10
12
Messi is the only player better than Neymar:- CR7 plays Golf, Lewandowski plays basketball, Mbappe plays rugby, Salah and Mane are actors. This man started watching football backwards.
let me be as clear as possible. Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar are the top 3...regarded by most of the people. these salah, mane, Lewandowski they don't come close to Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar's level😂