Footballing icon Lionel Messi has previously warned Barcelona to not sign Arsenal transfer target Xavi Simons, according to reports.
Simons played alongside Messi for French giants Paris Saint-Germain during the 2021/22 campaign before the talented youngster opted to leave the Parc des Princes last summer, joining Eredivisie outfit PSV. Since then, the 20-year-old has gone from strength to strength, netting 16 goals and providing a further eight assists in the league.
That kind of form hasn't gone unnoticed either, with a host of clubs including Arsenal recently linked with a summer transfer. As per the Mirror, the north Londoners will be offered the chance to sign the Dutch international at the end of the season.
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His new agent Darren Dein is the son of David Dein, who was vice-chairman of the Gunners for 24 years. That relationship may give them an advantage if they do pursue a move for the silky playmaker.
However, Catalan outlet El Nacional reported last year that Messi advised Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez not to sign Simons, who played for the Blaugrana's esteemed La Masia academy during his formative years. Simons followed this up by snubbing the Argentine legend when asked who the best player he had played alongside was.
Speaking to AD, via Sportskeeda, two months after those reports emerged, he said: "I am often asked: who is the best player I have played with in Paris? So I can answer: Messi or Mbappe, but everyone already knows how good they are, and Marco Verratti, a lot of people don't.
"Verratti is my favourite player. He doesn't score a lot of goals or give a lot of assists, but he's so important."
The youngster then added: "In Barcelona, it has already been stressed during the training of young people that it is not enough to just watch who scores the goals. They said: watch out for Xavi, (Andres) Iniesta, Dani Alves.
"What they all do for the team. This is how I see football. And that's how I play myself."
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