Lionel Messi bid farewell to Neymar on Instagram after the Brazilian striker told him and other Barcelona teammates he was leaving, saying it was a "Huge Pleasure" to have played with him.

The Catalan club confirmed that Neymar wanted to leave after weeks of intense speculation, taking the 25-year-old closer to a potential world record move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Messi wrote on Instagram that it was a huge pleasure having shared all those years with you, my friend Neymar.

On Wednesday, the Catalan Club insisted the Brazilian's 222 million euro buyout clause must be paid.

Such a fee would smash the current record 89.3 million pounds Manchester United paid for Paul Pogba last year.