Neymar encourages Barcelona to sign Paul Pogba as Juventus star would fit perfectly in La Liga giants

Neymar has encouraged Barcelona officials to make a summer move for Paul Pogba after claiming that the Juventus star would be the perfect fit for the Catalan style. The France international is expected to become one of the hottest prospects of the coming months amid late reports linking him with a move to Chelsea following the appointment of Antonio Conte.

Barcelona were heavily linked with Pogba during the last summer transfer window as the club were looking to fill the gap left by the departure of Xavi Hernandez. Reports in Spain then even claimed that the Catalans convinced Juventus to hold on to the Frenchman for one season due to their Fifa transfer ban ahead of luring him to the Nou Camp at the end of the current season.

However, Barcelona officials have recently suggested that they have changed their minds to turn their attention to other priorities. Nevertheless, following the arrival of Arda Turan and the impressive breakthrough into the first-team of Sergi Roberto, they have put the signing of a top defender instead of Pogba at the top of Luis Enrique's summer shopping list.

Club international adviser Ariedo Braida admitted last month that he could see Pogba joining Barcelona in the future but claimed that the priority is to sign a top defender.

Reports about a move to the Nou Camp have thus cooled down while Chelsea have emerged as a new candidate to get his services following the appointment of Conte. La Gazzetta Dello Sport earlier this week said that the Italian has the former Manchester United starlet among his candidates to bolster the Blues after he coached him during his time at Juventus.

Neymar, however, has urged Barcelona officials to reconsider their plans once again and try to beat other suitors by signing him.

Asked during an interview with La Liga official website who he would like to swap football shirt with, he said: "Pogba. He is young, I like how he plays, how he does things. I would like to swap my shirt with him."

When asked asked which player he would like to share a dressing room with, he replied: "Pogba too. I think he would fit really well at Barcelona."

Neymar, meanwhile, revealed that Dani Alves is his best friend in the Barcelona dressing room, while adding that Lionel Messi is the most talented.

"What I like about my current club are the players we have. They are fantastic," he said. "Leo is the most talented player and Alves my best friend in football."

The Brazilian international also revealed that his childhood idol was former Real Madrid and Manchester City star Robinho, and when asked about his future dream, he replied: "My dream is to win a World Cup and I would like to score a goal in the final."