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Alba: Barcelona is better for me without Neymar

Jordi Alba is enjoying playing for Barcelona more now that Neymar has left the club.

Neymar departed Camp Nou for Paris Saint-Germain in a world-record €222million move in August, breaking up the formidable MSN trident he formed with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

"He is a great player who, due to his circumstances or feelings or thoughts, decided to leave," Alba told Mundo Deportivo.

"In the end, there are still many more guys who can do a good job and I am delighted with the people there.

"As I said before, I have more space to run into and honest, for me, it's much better.

"I have regained confidence. With more space on the left I am very comfortable and that is demonstrated in the field. I'm enjoying it in a way I haven't for a long time."

The additional opportunities to push forward have given Alba greater opportunities to link up with Messi, who has been playing in a more central role.

"Understanding the best in the world is very easy," said the left-back. "His left foot is quite good for me.

"Since I arrived, we have always looked for each other. It is a privilege to play with him and I hope there are many more passes and connections."

Messi said this week he hopes to avoid Spain at next year's World Cup, a feeling Alba assured is mutual.

"We speak from time to time of the World Cup, of the strongest teams," he said.

"We do not want Argentina either, they are a great team, they have the best in the world and surely nobody will want a team like Argentina."