Lionel Messi must join Napoli to honour Maradona, says Kevin Prince Boateng

Ghana forward, Kevin-Prince Boateng has called on former Barcelona teammate, Lionel Messi to fellow Diego Maradona by signing for Serie A side, Napoli.

Maradona, Argentine football great passed away last month.

Lionel Messi, who is expected to leave Barcelona at the end of the season has already paid his respects by removing his Barcelona shirt when scoring against Osasuna to reveal a Newell’s Old Boys jersey.

Maradona's days at Napoli still sounds refreshing to the people in Naples after leading the club to two Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990.

Following his demise, Napoli have retired Maradona’s No.10 shirt but Boateng feels it is a move that Messi should make.

"Messi's going to finish his contract at Barcelona, [but] how amazing would it be if he would just call Napoli and say 'I will come'?" Boateng told ESPN.

"'They don't give out the No.10 shirt anymore, [but] I would love to honour Maradona's No.10 and I would love to come and play one year or two years at Naples, without thinking about money or nothing, just heart'."

Monza midfielder Boateng, who spent a spell on loan alongside Messi at Barcelona last year, has described the possibility of a move to Napoli as being like a movie script - but would love it to happen.

"It would be like a movie," Boateng said. "He'd have to go to practice by a f*cking helicopter because people would eat him alive. They'd be so happy.

"But just that story: 'In honour of Maradona, I will come and play for Naples', what kind of story would that be for the world, not only for football, for the world?

"It would be a message, it would be history everywhere. I just wish I would be in Messi's shoes. I want to be Messi. I would call the president of Naples and I would tell him," he added.