"Nobody Asked Me To Play For Free"- Messi Hits Back At Joan Laporta
Lionel Messi has insisted that at no point in time was he asked to play for Barcelona for free.
The 34-year-old Argentina international ended a 21-year association with Barcelona in the summer when he joined Paris Saint Germain on a free transfer after the Catalan giants failed to put a suitable financial package together to retain the six-time Ballon d’or winner.
Barcelona's could not retain Messi's services because they had reached La Liga's wage limits.
President Joan Laporta revealed last month that he hoped Messi would stay and play for free but the club's former captain says he was never contacted to offer his services pro bono.
"The truth is that, as I explained on my way out, I did everything possible to stay," Messi told Sport. "Never at any time was I asked to play for free.
"I was asked to cut my salary by 50 per cent and I did it without any problem. We were in a position to help the club more. The desire and desire of me and my family was to stay in Barcelona.
"Nobody asked me to play for free, but at the same time it seems to me that the words said by the president are out of place.
"They hurt me because I think he doesn't need to say it, it's like getting the ball off you and not assuming its consequences, or taking charge of things.
"This makes people think or generates a type of doubt that I think I don't deserve."
Messi made 778 appearances for Barcelona after making his debut in 2003 and is the club’s all-time top scorer with 672 goals. He won 35 trophies with the club including four UEFA Champions League trophies and 10 La Liga titles.
Messi has somewhat struggled to replicate his Barcelona form for his new club as he is yet to score in his five Ligue 1 games for Mauricio Pochettino’s men.
