After spending more than 15 years as fierce rivals in LaLiga, Sergio Ramos has revealed what his relationship with Lionel Messi is like at Paris Saint-Germain and how it feels being the Argentine's teammate.
The former Real Madrid and Barcelona captains joined the French giants last year as free agents after spending the majority of their professional careers in Spain as the faces of the country's most intense derby, ElClasico.
For years, Ramos and Messi were seen tussling and involved in altercations, with the Spaniard being sent off on more than one occasion for heavy challenges on the former Catalan club forward, but that seems to have been put behind them.
Speaking in a pre-match press conference ahead of PSG's final group game of this season's UEFA Champions League against Juventus, the veteran centre-back admitted it is far better being on the same side as the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner.
"It's something that I think generates curiosity in everyone," he said, according to Marca.
"But in the end we are players who have the same objective, which is to win with Paris Saint-Germain, and to make the team great.
"My relationship with Messi is excellent. There is great respect between the players and a healthy state of mind.
"Of course, it's better to have him [Messi] as a teammate. Whenever you are given the choice of having Messi with or against you, the answer is quick and sincere.
"Leo continues to perform at the highest level. We must emphasise that players should not be measured by age but by performance.
"[Messi] is still one of the most decisive players in the world and one of the best, it is a privilege to have him in the team.
"It is much worse to have him against you, I suffered against him for many years."
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Ramos registered an assist for Messi in Ligue 1 on the weekend, after he rolled the ball to the 35-year-old before his long-range effort beat the Troyes goalkeeper to draw the game level at 2-2, with Les Parisiens eventually winning the encounter 4-3.
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