Lionel Messi has debunked the rumor making the news that he disagreed to play for free in Barcelona during his contract saga at the club.
The Argentine was speaking in an interview with Sports, a sports news outlet in France on Monday, October 31st, 2021. The 34-year-old expressed his disappointment over the comment made by Joan Laporta.
Messi joined PSG from Barcelona during the last summer transfer window after the Catalonia side said the financial fair play rule in Spain was the reason why his contract could not be renewed.
As I explained on my way out, I did everything to stay. Never at any time was I asked to play for free. I was asked to cut my salary by fifty per cent and I did it without any problem. We were in a position to help the club more. The desire for 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 were 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. This makes people think or generate a type of doubt that I think I do not deserve.
Lionel Messi has failed to live up to the expectations that he was bringing from Barcelona to PSG. The Argentine has scored only a goal for the Ligue 1 side which came in the UEFA Champions League against Manchester City on matchday 2.