Di Maria: Playing with Messi would be wonderful
Angel Di Maria spoke about Argentina team-mate Lionel Messi, whose Barcelona future is far from certain beyond 2020-21.
Paris Saint-Germain attacker Angel Di Maria said it would be "wonderful" to play alongside Lionel Messi amid doubts over his Barcelona future.
Messi is out of contract at the end of the season and the superstar Barça captain has been heavily linked with Ligue 1 champions PSG and Premier League leaders Manchester City.
Barça – led by new president Joan Laporta – remain hopeful of re-signing the record six-time Ballon d'Or winner, who has spent his entire senior career at Camp Nou.
Di Maria dreams of playing with Argentine teammate
Di Maria has played alongside Messi at international level for Argentina and the PSG star admitted he would love to join forces with his countryman at club level.
"From my whole career, from everything I've seen, I think Leo is from another planet," Di Maria told beIN SPORTS. "To have him as a team-mate would be wonderful.
"But he is a Barcelona player, he has a contract. After that, we'll see.
"I talk a lot with him and I always tell him that the important thing is his happiness and that of his family. It's hard to say anything else."
Barça face Real Valladolid on Monday, with Ronald Koeman's men able to move within a point of LaLiga leaders Atlético Madrid.
Messi's hot run continues
Messi has been directly involved in 23 league goals in 2021 – 16 goals and seven assists – which is more than any other player in the top five European leagues.
The Argentinian has had a direct hand in eight goals in his last four LaLiga games against Valladolid – four goals and four assists.
Those goal involvements have helped Barcelona to 13 wins in their previous 14 LaLiga games against Valladolid, with the only exception being a 1-0 defeat away from home in March 2014.