Paris: The former Barcelona star, Lionel Messi was revealed to have been hurt by the comments made by Barcelona President Joan Laporta about not offering to play for Barcelona for free.
“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 that, it’s like getting the ball off you and not assuming its consequences, or taking charge of things. ” said the Argentine talisman to Sport.
Messi made a shocking unwanted move to French Giants Paris Saint-Germain after not being able to renew with the club of his boyhood following the club’s financial crisis and La Liga Fair Play Rules. Messi had reportedly accepted a 50 percent wage cut to help the club to keep him, but Laporta said to have expected Messi to have offered himself for free to the club as a gesture of gratitude.
The Barcelona president told RAC1 in October: “I hoped Messi would do a U-turn and he would say he would play for free.”
“I would have liked that and I would have been all for it. It is my understanding La Liga would have accepted it. But we cannot ask a player of Messi’s stature to do this.”
Speaking about the comments Messi hit out at Laporta saying the comments have hurt him and he was ready to do more for the club of his life.
“The truth is that, as I explained on my way out, I did everything possible to stay, never at any time was I asked to play for free,” the Argentine forward has told Sport.
“I was asked to cut my salary by 50 percent and I did it without any problem. We were in a position to help the club more. The 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 that, it’s like getting the ball off you and not assuming its consequences, or taking charge of things. ” added the PSG forward.
“This makes people think or generates a type of doubt that I think I do not deserve.”
