Lionel Messi is 'extra-terrestrial' and I couldn't see him at any other club, says new Barcelona midfielder Miralem Pjanic

New Barcelona signing Miralem Pjanic says he never envisaged seeing Lionel Messi playing for another club.

Messi told Barca in August that he wanted to leave this summer, but the Argentine attacker later announced he would be staying and will link up with Pjanic for the Catalan club this season.

"He's possibly the best footballer of all time. He's an extra-terrestrial," Pjanic said of Messi at his official presentation as a Barcelona player on Tuesday.

"I couldn't see Messi with another shirt. For me, it was impossible and I thought everything would be sorted out in the end. My wish is to play with him."

The former Juventus midfielder only arrived in Barcelona on Thursday after testing positive for coronavirus late last month and going into enforced self-isolation.

"I only met Messi two or three days ago," the Bosnian said. "I still haven't been able to train with him.

"I have been lucky to play with players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Francesco Totti. I want to have fun with the whole team.

"The [squad of] 25 will all be important and I believe in the spirit of the group."

Pjanic is in line to make his debut in Wednesday's friendly against Girona and has been handed the number 8 shirt vacated by Arthur Melo, who moved the opposite way to Juventus in June.

Read more

Barcelona XI vs Girona: Confirmed team news and predicted lineup

Salah 'would like to go to Barcelona', claims friend of Koeman

Barcelona use AI to bring fans closer to training and youth games