Lionel Messi: Joan Laporta's words hurt me
The PSG forward spoke to SPORT in Paris about what Laporta said and more
Without a doubt, one of the more interesting parts of SPORT’s exclusive interview with Lionel Messi was the player speaking about the president, Joan Laporta.
He did not like Laporta suggesting Messi could have played for free to stay at the club.
“It hurt because I don't think there was any need to say that. It's like taking the ball off you and not accepting the responsibility or taking charge of things. That makes people think and generates all types of doubts that I don't think I deserve,” said Messi.
He said he had not spoken to the Barcelona president since,
“The truth is, as I explained when I left, I did everything possible to stay,” added Messi.
“Never at any moment did they ask me to play for free. They asked me to reduce my salary by 50 per cent and I did it without any problem. We were willing to help the club more. My desire and that of my family was to stay in Barcelona. No one asked me to play for free but at the same time the president's words were inappropriate.”
