Rivaldo has called on his former club to bring Neymar back to the Nou Camp from Paris Saint-Germain this summer rather than opt to buy Chelsea target Lautaro Martinez from Inter Milan.
Neymar became the world’s most expensive player as he left Barcelona for PSG in 2017 for €222m (£200m), though he nearly returned to the Catalan club last summer and is consistently linked with a move back to La Liga.
Antoine Griezmann may be used in a swap deal to ensure Neymar’s return to Barcelona, according to Sky Sports , and Rivaldo insists that the Brazilian superstar is ready to lead the club to glory alongside Lionel Messi.
“Looking at the last few years we have seen many valuable players who didn't manage to play alongside Messi - failing to perform under the expectations,” he wrote in a Betfair column.
"But Neymar - like Luis Suárez - is one of the few players in the world that doesn't feel pressure on the pitch, always playing with plenty of personality."
Rivaldo, who made 256 appearances for Barcelona, believes the club have signed too many young players who struggle with the burden of playing for the Spanish giants, such as Ousmane Dembele.
And the World Cup winner believes Martinez, who is just 22, could be another such case, adding: “Although the young Argentinian is a good player, I think that only Neymar is a certain bet to claim a place in the starting XI side by side with Messi.
“He (Neymar) never gets frightened and it would be a safe option for the club while Martinez is a young, talented forward that perhaps in two or three years may become a good signing.
"For now I think the club should prioritise Neymar.”
Should Barcelona opt to lure Neymar back to the Nou Camp this summer, it would allow Frank Lampard to try and bring Martinez to Stamford Bridge.
Tammy Abraham has shone at times this season but has been inconsistent and the Blues have been linked with a number of forwards, especially as Olivier Giroud and Michy Batshuayi look likely to depart in the summer.
