Neymar: I will only play alongside Messi if he joins Santos

05-Nov-2012 4:00:00 PM

The Brazil international has no intention to leave his current club any time soon, and is full of respect for both the Barcelona star and Cristiano Ronaldo

Santos attacker Neymar has once more repeated that a move to Europe is not an option for him at the moment as he is eager to stay at his current club at least until the end of his contract.

The Brazil international has been consistently linked with both Real Madrid and Barcelona, but has joked that the only way he will play with Lionel Messi in the near future is if he leaves Camp Nou for the Sao Paulo outfit.

"For now, I will only play alongside Messi if he opts to join Santos," the tricky attacker was quoted as saying by El Mundo.

"It's possible for Santos to sign him. All we have to do is sell half of the city!"

The 20-year-old then went on to stress that he has not been in touch with neither Barca nor Madrid and that his only focus is his current club.

"I don't know anything about Barcelona. One day I'm linked with a move there, and another day I'm supposedly on my way to Madrid. I have a contract with Santos until 2014, though, and that's all I know."

Neymar also took the time to praise both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, claiming that he would like to follow in the former's footsteps.

"I would like to play with both Messi and Ronaldo. Messi's career is an example to follow for me. There are no words to describe his game. I just want him to keep on doing what he does with the ball."

Neymar netted a hat-trick on Saturday, helping Santos to a 4-0 away win over Cruzeiro.