Ronald de Boer has insisted that Barcelona's No 10 shirt "must stay alive" after Lionel Messi's emotional exit from the Camp Nou.
Messi, who came through Barcelona's famed La Masia academy, initially wore the No 30 shirt at the Spanish club in the 2004-05 season.
The 34-year-old Argentine superstar kept the No 30 shirt for the 2005-2006 campaign before wearing the No 19 shirt for the following two seasons.
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Messi inherited the No 10 shirt from the 2008-09 season after Brazil legend Ronaldinho completed his move to AC Milan.
The six-time Ballon d'Or winner was in tears during his farewell Barcelona press conference on Sunday ahead of a reported move to Paris Saint-Germain.
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Fans have called on the La Liga club to retire the No 10 shirt after Messi's exit, with the shirt number currently vacant ahead of the new season.
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Ajax legend De Boer has now claimed that the No 10 shirt at Barcelona should be retired, saying that he remembers Messi more for his skills than his shirt.
The 51-year-old Dutchman added that Barcelona should hand the shirt to a youngster who has the aspirations of becoming "as good as Messi."
Speaking to talkSPORT, De Boer said: "We had it with Johan Cruyff No 14 [at Ajax], of course.
"In another way, no, you have to always dream to be just as good as Messi. I think the No 10 must stay alive, not to say okay we'll put it some place and nobody's going to touch it.
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"I mean, Messi's Messi. [...] If I think about Messi, it's about his football skills, so not his shirt. Try to give it to a youngster who wants to be just as good as Messi."
Messi has received a formal two-year contract offer from PSG and is expected to sign for the Ligue 1 side this week.
The Barcelona legend confirmed on Sunday that it was a real "possibility" he could sign for the Parisian-based club.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Football, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Spain, La Liga
