Messi Can Live With Me If He Joins Real Madrid, Says Santiago Bernabeu's Star

Lionel Messi received a surprise accommodation offer from Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos Thursday.

Messi, whose current deal with FC Barcelona is due to expire at the end of the 2020-21 campaign, is tipped to leave Camp Nou in the summer. He has been linked with a move to several top European clubs, with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) considered to be ahead in the race to sign the six-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Speaking on Ibai Llanos' chat show Charlando Tranquilamente, Ramos said if Messi moved to Santiago Bernabeu this summer, he could stay with the Ramos family in Madrid while he went house hunting.

On being asked if he would welcome Messi at Real Madrid, Ramos responded, "Of course, 100%! He could stay at mine for the first week or so. He can find his feet and get comfy, I'd be more than happy to do that. Us Madrid fans have had to endure Leo's best years [with him at another team] so to not have to face him every week would be great and to have him with us would obviously help us to win and have more success. It would be stupid to say it wouldn't."

The rivalry between the two largest cities in Spain - Barcelona and Real Madrid – has existed in soccer for decades now. The two clubs are among the richest and most successful soccer clubs in the world -- both have a global fanbase and are the two most followed sports teams across the globe on social media.

With 26 goals, Messi has scored more goals than any other Barcelona and Real Madrid players in the El Classico meetings. Next on the list are Alfredo Di Stéfano and Cristiano Ronaldo, who had netted 18 goals each in El Classico games, across all competitions.

With 45 matches, Real Madrid captain Ramos leads the list of most El Classico appearances, one more than his Barcelona counterpart Messi.

Ramos, who kickstarted his professional career at Seville, has been associated with the Santiago Bernabeu club since 2005. Even his current contract with Real Madrid is set to expire in the summer of 2021. In the same interview, Ramos made it clear that even if he leaves Real Madrid, he would not join their rivals at Camp Nou.

"Absolutely no chance! I like [new Barca president Joan] Laporta, I've met him and I liked him. But it's the same as not seeing Xavi, [Carles] Puyol, or even Messi signing for Madrid; it works the other way too and there are those of us who would never play for Barca. There are some things money can't buy," added Ramos.