Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has admitted that the club are missing Neymar both on and off the field, despite their fine form so far this season.
Neymar left Camp Nou in a blockbuster £200m move to Paris Saint-Germain during the summer, obliterating the old world-record transfer fee and breaking up Barca's feared front three of Lionel Messi, Suarez and Neymar in the process.
Messi has since continued his fine form, but Suarez has struggled since Neymar's departure with only three league goals so far this season, and he admits that he found it "painful" to watch the Brazilian leave.
"We miss Ney a lot on the pitch, but more off it, because he was special. He's said it. We had a lot of fun. He transmits happiness and joy all of the time. He was important for us. He's playing for another team now but I don't hold it against him, the opposite," he told Sport.
"I tried to convince him to stay because I think here's the best place for him, but it's a decision he had to take. [Messi and I] tried to do what would benefit the team. But we never said 'Don't go because you won't be happy.' We said we didn't want him to go, but that he was free to do what he wanted. Because of the friendship we have, it was painful that he left.
"It's come out that he regrets leaving. Not at all. Ney is mature enough to know if he regrets leaving and he would say it himself, it doesn't need to be said by other people."
Despite the exit of Neymar, Barcelona already enjoy a four-point lead at the top of La Liga and are eight points clear of bitter rivals and defending champions Real Madrid.
Barney Corkhill
