Lionel Messi insists that Barcelona are a better team without Neymar

LIONEL MESSI reckons Barcelona are better without Neymar.

Brazilian striker Neymar left the Nou Camp for Paris Saint-Germain for a world record £198million this summer.

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And mercurial Argentine star told Marca, who has just signed a new deal at Barca, said:

“Neymar’s departure has caused the way we play to change.

“We lost a great deal of offensive potential but it favoured us in a defensive sense.

“Currently we are most well-armed in the middle of the field, we have more balance and that makes us stronger defensively.”

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Neymar left Barcelona for PGS for a world record £198million

AFP

Barca have kept 13 clean sheets in all competitions so far and have been their usual free-scoring selves.

And Messi has 16 goals to his name.

His personal trike power has helped cover the loss of Neymar, whose move to France came as something of a surprise to 30-year-old Messi.

CHARLES PLATIAU

Reuters

Messi told ESPN after seeing Neymar depart on the back of a pre-season tour in the United States: “Until the last day of the tour we were talking and we didn’t know anything.

“He said that he still wasn’t clear what to do and he didn’t know what he was doing.

“Others said they knew. But right until the last minute, we were speaking to him.”

Neymar, 25, it must be said, has done well at PSG.

There has been a much-publicised on-field spat with Edinson Cavani and speculation about  a potential return to Spain at Real Madrid.

But Neymar has netted 13 times and provided eight assists in Ligue 1 and the Champions League.