Lionel Messi’s penalty assist for Luis Suarez’s hat-trick dominated the headlines after Barcelona’s 6-1 win over Celta Vigo.

But strike partner Neymar claimed the pass was in fact meant for him.

In a move reminiscent of Johan Cruyff’s pass penalty for Ajax in 1982, Messi nudged the ball ahead of the penalty spot and Suarez side-footed into the near corner to complete his hat-trick.

Messi scored his 299th league goal for Barca to give them the lead in the first half, although John Guidetti levelled for Celta from the penalty spot before half-time.

Messi provided Suarez with his second strike with a sumptuous assist and then shunned the chance to bag his 300th league goal, instead laying on the Uruguayan’s third from the penalty spot.

Ivan Rakitic and Neymar completed the thrashing by adding a goal each late on, although talk of the penalty dominated discussions after the game. Neymar told reporters in the mixed zone at the Nou Camp: “It was planned and I was supposed to score it, but Luis was closer.”

Team-mate Jordi Alba was unable to shed any further light on the matter.

“Leo always invents things and it was perfect,” he told Canal Plus.

“We hadn’t seen it in any training session, we didn’t know anything.”

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique insisted the penalty routine was not disrespectful to Celta, who had acquitted themselves well for much of the game.

“There will be a big debate and some will like it, some won’t, but as Barca players and members of the club, as well as winning trophies we try to enjoy our football in a spectacular way,” Luis Enrique told a press conference.

“What we have to do is enjoy our football, respect our opponents and try and show that we are better at them at football.

“In this country a bad tackle is more acceptable than a piece of skill. We don’t care about the criticism. We know where it comes from.

“It’s a legal way to take it, and we all remember Cruyff doing it.”

He added “I wouldn’t have done it as I would have fallen over.”