Reports in Spain claim Lionel Messi has put pressure on Luis Surez to return to Barcelona as the club’s boss Ronald Koeman has opened the door to striker to stay at the club beyond the current transfer window.

The two South American stars have struck up a fearsome attacking combination over the years as part of an attacking trident, firstly with Brazilian star Neymar and more recently with Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann.

Now Messi, who is close friends with Suarez outside of first-team affairs, according to Diario AS, via Football Espana, is attempting to persuade the Uruguayan to stay at the Camp Nou beyond this transfer window.

It follows a report from Catalan radio on Tuesday that Suarez’s proposed move to Juventus had collapsed over his citizenship issue in Italy and Lionel Messi is reportedly persuading the striker to stay at the Camp Nou.

“I was talking to Luis this morning,” Koeman told reporters on Wednesday, as per Marca.

“We are waiting to see if there is a way out or not. We respect the contracts and from day one we have said that if he stays in the squad he will be one more.”

Despite hitting 21 goals in an injury-hit season, Suarez’s physical levels have dropped in recent seasons since his prime and his future has come under increasing scrutiny in recent times, and he is not thought to be in the plans of new boss Ronald Koeman.