Messi hopes Neymar to return to Barcelona in an interview with MD.
"I have said it many times, at a sporting level Neymar is one of the best in the world and I would love him to return.
"Neymar was a very happy person, he was always happy, he had fun both on and off the pitch.
"It made the dressing room live a different kind of joy.
"He is really looking forward to coming back, he always seemed sorry.
"He did a lot to return last summer and that would be the first step to try to come back," said Messi.