Lionel Messi bids emotional farewell to Neymar ahead of world record £198million move from Barcelona to PSG
He wrote: 'It was an enormous pleasure to have shared all these years with you my friend'
LIONEL MESSI has bid an emotional farewell to departing Barcelona superstar Neymar.
The Brazilian will be leaving the Nou Camp for a world record £196MILLION, ending a summer-long saga.
Part of the reason Neymar wants to leave is to step out of Messi's shadow.
But the five-time Ballon d'Or winner proved there are no hard feelings between the pair as he posted an emotional thank you message to his former strike partner.
Messi, who won two La Liga titles, two Copa del Reys and the Champions League with Neymar, wrote: "It was an enormous pleasure sharing these years with you, my friend.
"I wish you all the happiness in this next phase of your life. I'll see you soon."
And Neymar replied: "Thank you brother. I will miss you uncle."
A video showed a montage of the two players, celebrating alongside each other and lifting numerous trophies.
And the most expensive transfer in history has not come about not without its hitches.
Neymar was involved in a bust-up with angry Barcelona fans in the car park of an exclusive night club.
That came before incredible photographs showed Neymar clash with new signing Nelson Semedo during a training session in Miami.
Neymar's transfer is yet to be officially confirmed by the Ligue 1 side but advertising bearing his image is already being pulled down in Barcelona.