Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has admitted that a number of European clubs, including Manchester City and Manchester United, have closed the gap on his side and Real Madrid.
The Clasico rivals were long regarded as the most illustrious clubs to play for by many footballers - particularly from South America - but Neymar's world-record £200m switch from Barca to Paris Saint-Germain proved to be a watershed moment in the game.
Messi believes that money has enabled other clubs to close the gap on Barcelona and Madrid, claiming that players will now move to whichever team pays them the most.
"There are clubs now with a lot of money and players move for that reason," Messi told Catalunya Radio.
"Wherever the most money is, that's where they end up going. Things have changed and now the owners of clubs are multi-millionaires.
"Before, everyone wanted to play for Barca or Madrid, who were the best, but now everything's tighter and there's not much of a difference between the teams in Manchester, PSG, Madrid, us, Bayern [Munich], the Italians."
Messi has repeatedly insisted that he will not leave Barcelona for another European club, despite speculative reports linking Man City with an audacious bid, and the five-time Ballon d'Or winner insists that he has no worries about the future at this stage.
"I am just thinking about the years that I can keep playing. When the moment comes, I will decide. I want to finish the contract I have and then we will see if I continue or not. It doesn't worry me right now," he added.
"The club can be calm [when I am gone] if they keep bringing players through the academy and making good signings."
Messi has been left out of the three finalists for FIFA's Best Men's Player award this year.
Barney Corkhill
