Messi and Neymar struck up a strong friendship during their shared four-year, trophy-laden stint at the Nou Camp.
And that bond did not break when the Brazilian quit Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in a world-record £200m deal last summer.
Messi and Neymar are said to be in constant contact still, with transfer rumours often a topic of conversation between the duo.
The latest reports in Spain suggest Messi has delivered a ‘warning’ to Neymar as speculation over a potential move to Real swirls.
According to Don Balon, Messi was one of the first to know about Neymar planning to leave Barcelona for PSG.
And he’s apparently discovered Real is most likely to be the 25-year-old’s destination when he next moves on.
Messi has supposedly tried to convince Neymar that a return to Barcelona would be better than joining their ‘eternal rivals’.
Having failed to do tempt him, a ‘very angry’ Messi is has allegedly told his former team-mate not to utilise Barcelona’s interest as a bargaining chip.
Don Balon indicate Messi has warned Neymar not to use Barcelona to get a better contract at Real and not to hurt Barca fans’ feelings.
Messi is seemingly resigned to seeing Neymar rock up at Real and will accept it as long as it does not involve Barcelona being given false hope of re-signing him.