Barcelona ace Lionel Messi has urged Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas to come and join him at the Camp Nou and become the “greatest midfield player in the world.”

The Gunner has long been linked with a move back to the Catalan club and, speaking to the Sunday People, Messi has now joined the debate by telling the young Spaniard to head back to his homeland.

“Everybody at Barcelona knows about Cesc Fabregas,” he admitted.

“He is one of the greatest midfield players in the world and the sort of player who would suit the Barcelona style of football.

“If he chooses to leave Arsenal I am sure it would be for Barcelona. And, if there is any doubt, I would like to say to him this is the best football club in the world - and if he came here I am sure he would become the greatest midfield player in the world within three years.

“If he came now he could learn off players like Andres and Xavi, who are the best central midfield pairing in the world.

“At Arsenal he is the main guy, but he knows how much he can learn from Andres and Xavi, and I know that they would both love to have him.

“If he does decide to leave this summer, I think it is time for him to finally come home.”

Despite the near-constant speculation Fabregas has always insisted he is happy in north London but Messi warned that the midfielder needed to be winning trophies and that may mean finally leaving the Emirates.

He added: “I understand that Arsenal means a lot to Cesc.

“But there comes a point in your life when you have to think about winning the biggest prizes in football, and I think it has got to that point for him.

“He has given Arsenal great service, but he should be winning league titles and European Cups.

“I played with him for the youth team at Barcelona and you could tell he was a special player - he had great vision and passing range even then.”