Anthony Barr is happy having his former UCLA teammate Eric Kendricks join him on the Vikings. However, there is some business to settle.

The linebackers were college roommates before Barr was taken by Minnesota with the No. 9 pick in the 2014 NFL draft. Kendricks arrived earlier this month as a second-round selection.

The two are very close. At UCLA, they hung out all the time, which included shopping for shoes and listening to music.

They also have battled in video games. It seems Barr is not enthralled that Kendricks has beaten him the past two times they have played FIFA World Cup.

“He has two games, but his record is like 2-48 against me,” Barr said. “I need to get him. Now that he’s out here, we’ll have a couple of series (next) weekend.”

Kendricks doesn’t deny Barr is the better player, but says he wins about two of every 10 times they play. Pressed on the matter, Barr did admit that’s a more accurate figure.

Other than during video games, the 23-year-olds are used to being on the same side. And that will continue with the Vikings.

Both arrived at UCLA in 2010, and they became immediate friends. Kendricks, from Fresno, Calif., redshirted his first season while Barr, from Los Angeles, played running back his first two years.

In 2012 and 2013, they were starting linebackers in the Bruins’ 3-4 scheme. Barr played on the outside and Kendricks inside.

“They are tighter than tight,” said UCLA linebackers coach Scott White, who was assistant linebackers coach when the two played together. “They’re the best of friends. They play off each other very well on the field. They have synergy, and I think that will continue on the Vikings.”

Barr moved immediately into the starting lineup last season as a strongside linebacker. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Kendricks will begin his NFL tenure in the middle but eventually might be better suited for the weak side.

Kendricks, who will compete with Audie Cole and Casey Matthews, could move into the starting lineup at middle linebacker. That is his goal, and he figures having Barr providing some NFL guidance can do nothing but help.

“I feel like Anthony will be a mentor,” said Kendricks, who actually is 18 days older than Barr. “Even though we’re best friends and at the same level, I feel he can definitely be that mentor going into the season and for the rest of my career.”

Kendricks, who has signed a four-year, $5.155 million contract, has had a mentor in older brother Mychal Kendricks, a linebacker who played in college at California and is entering his fourth NFL season with Philadelphia. Kendricks’ hope before the draft was being selected by either the Eagles or Vikings.

Minnesota snagged Kendricks, who had been projected for the second round, with the No. 45 overall selection. That was two picks before the Eagles were on the clock at No. 47, but Kendricks wasn’t complaining.

“A.B. (before the draft) was like, ‘Hey, Eric, we could really use you,’ and things like that,” Kendricks said. “He would tell me things throughout (last) season. He always just said it joking around kind of, but seriously at the same time, that he just wants to play with me. So it’s just awesome that that’s going to happen.”

When the Vikings selected Kendricks, Barr tweeted, “Are you serious?” “No way,” “I can’t believe it” and “I feel like I just got drafted again.”

“It still doesn’t seem like it’s real,” Barr said a week after Kendricks’ May 1 selection. “It’s pretty cool. Stuff like that doesn’t happen very often, but we’ve got to make the most of it. I think we’re going to push each other to be better. We’re going to work out together.”

There’s one thing they won’t do, though. That’s live together again.

Barr lives in a townhouse in Eden Prairie. He said Kendricks is considering moving into the same neighborhood.

“We both need our own space, so there’s nothing wrong with being neighbors,” Barr said.

When they were roommates, the two apparently got along fine.

“When we first became roommates, our budgets were a little tight, and we had to decide what to do,” Barr said. “We had to decide, do we want a couch or a TV or do we want a mirror or a clock?

“Girls (who are roommates) like to argue, but we’re drama-free. We have a really good relationship. We have the same thought process and we have very similar tastes. We’re both Pisces.”

In the Broadway play, movie and television series “The Odd Couple,” Felix was the neat freak and Oscar the slob. So who was who when Barr and Kendricks roomed together?

“I would say I’m definitely the cleaner one,” Kendricks said. “He was messy at times. He wasn’t messy all the time, but definitely had times when he was a little lazy.”

Barr doesn’t deny he “cleaned up on his own time.” After all, he said the two aren’t prone to argue.

“They’re into all the same stuff,” White said. “They play the same video games, they like the same music. Both of them are really into shoes. They have a special type of relationship.”

The two like rap, hip-hop, rhythm and blues and some country music. With shoes, Nike Jordans are a favorite. Kendricks said he has dozens of pairs of shoes, and now that he has signed an NFL contract hopes to catch up with Barr, who has far more.

Barr said the two also share a love of Mexican food. He’s got a Twin Cities restaurant in mind he plans to visit soon with his buddy after he wraps up a three-day rookie minicamp Sunday.

The foremost plan for now, though, is next weekend’s FIFA World Cup battle. Barr is determined to keep Kendricks’ winning streak from reaching three.

Follow Chris Tomasson at twitter.com/christomasson.