Angel Di Maria: I had several chances to play with Lionel Messi at Barcelona

Angle Di Maria, speaking to Libero Vs., has revealed various details about his relationship with Lionel Messi, who he will finally play with at club level.

"In my career, I've lacked the cherry on the cake: to play with Leo at the same club. I had several chances to go to Bará," he said.

Di Maria will not get the chance to play with his Argentine international teammate after the former Barcelona forward joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer this summer.

"I'm so happy to have him there every day and to see what he does, not just when we go with the national team," Di Maria continued.

"We're the first two to arrive at training, it's true. Me first, a few minutes before. He arrives next and we make some mates (South American hot drink)."

He added: "Messi doesn't like the show. He's just like one of the lads really, and that's how he likes it. He doesn't like the headlines, that's why he gets on better with those that treat him the same as anyone else.

"Because if you treat him like he is as a footballer -- an alien -- then you'll be outside his bubble, rather than doing things he likes, like eating together, having fun and laughing.

"We all joke around and call him an alien in the press -- and he is -- but in the end he is just Leo, he's 'Enano' and we treat him that way."