Former Barcelona striker Thierry Henry has claimed that the Spanish giants must keep hold of Neymar if they are to continue to thrive when Lionel Messi eventually departs Camp Nou.
Messi has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester City in recent months and although that transfer is still seen as unlikely, the 28-year-old is expected to return to Argentina before officially hanging up his boots.
Neymar, meanwhile, has scored 14 league goals for Barcelona this season and his form over the last 12 months has made him one of three finalists for the upcoming Ballon d'Or.
Henry, who represented the Catalan club between 2007 and 2010, has claimed that how well Barcelona cope without Messi will be determined by whether they can keep hold of Neymar amid reported interest from Manchester United.
"It's important for the players, the club, the fans, and everyone knows it's important for Neymar to stay," Henry told Barcelona's official website. "Everyone knows that one day – we don't know when – Leo won't be there. Brazilians play with a smile on their faces, they invent things and they're Brazilian, that's what people want to enjoy."
Neymar has found the back of the net on 17 occasions in all competitions this season.
Matt Law
