Opinion: 3 reasons why Barcelona should go for Neymar rather than Antoine Griezmann

#1 The dressing room unanimously wants him back

Barcelona's players favor a move for Neymar over Griezmann

In the aftermath of Barcelona's shock elimination to Liverpool in the semifinal of the just concluded Champions League season, Josep Bartomeu attended an emergency meeting in Messi's house to chart the way forward.

At the conclusion of the meeting, reports emanated that in addition to making the decision to retain Ernesto Valverde due to his popularity with the players, Lionel Messi also gave the green light for the return of Neymar to Barcelona stating that the 27-year-old is still respected a lot in the Blaugrana dressing room.

Furthermore, while responding to questions in the aftermath of Uruguay's Copa America win over Ecuador, Luis Suarez also sanctioned the move stating that 'the best years of his football career were spent alongside Neymar and that everyone would want to play with a player on the level of the Brazilian. While Arturo Vidal also said the world's most expensive player would be welcome in Barcelona.

Meanwhile the former Liverpool forward was less forthcoming about Griezmann, stating that while the Frenchman is a quality player, he would prefer not to comment on his speculated transfer.

As recently as last year, Griezmann was welcome at Barcelona, with Messi stating that signing the Atletico forward would be a brilliant boost to the club.

However, the 28-year-old's decision not to heed their call, preferring to sign an extension with the Rojiblancos is said not to have sat well with the Barcelona players and with so many of their dressing room heavyweights preferring Neymar's arrival to Griezmann's, it makes no sense for the club hierarchy not to heed their wish.