Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, has once again spoken out about Lionel Messi's exit from the club, saying he had hoped that the captain would offer to play for the Catalan giants for free, Newspremises reports.

The club could not afford to keep hold of Messi amid their unprecedented financial woes, with the club racking up more than £1billion in debt and recording a £409million loss for last season.

Earlier in the summer, the club president explained that Barcelona's wage bill with six-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi on the books would equal 110 per cent of their income.

As a result, the Argentina star bid an emotional farewell in a press conference before signing for the Ligue 1 giants, PSG in the summer on a two-year deal.

Speaking on Catalan radio station RAC1 via Mundo Deportivo, Laporta, 59, said he had hope the 34-year-old would at the last minute agree to play for free and extend his 21-year stay, but he ultimately acknowledged a player 'of his level' could not do so, after PSG presented a 'very powerful' offer.

'With Messi I do not get angry because I appreciate him. But when we see that he could not stay there is a certain disappointment on both sides. I know they had a huge desire to stay, but a lot of pressure because of the offer they had.

'Everything indicates that he already had the offer from PSG. Everyone knew that he had a very powerful offer. We knew that from Messi's side they had a very good offer.

'I did hope that at the last minute Messi would say he would play for free. I would have liked that and he would have convinced me. I understand that the League would have accepted it. But we cannot ask that of a player of his level.

'I thought it because I know him, he went up to the first team when I was there, I helped his family a lot. He knew that when we our economic situation recovered he would be reciprocated.'

Source: https://newspremises.com.ng/we-wanted-messi-to-play-for-us-for-free-barcelona-president-joan-laporta/

Laporta don see mumu

So he expects Messi to play for free
Asin free o

E not fit work

Then go smell pepper this season

FTC on a norms
Shalaout to the mods and all N'landers

If Laporta had accepted the CVC loan deal from La liga, he wouldn't have said this trash cos Barcelona would have enough cash to keep Messi.

After falling foolishly for Perez's trap, Laporta still guts to utter talk nonsense.

I thought those were just rumors... This man legit wanted the GOAT to play for a miserable team for free of charge? It seems LaPorta is actually more foolish than I thought.
Messi should left barca years ago sef. Very nonsensical team. Can't wait to see them get relegated

No be only free

Messi has turned almighty Barca to Ipswich city

Haha! This man get mind oh, make a whole Messi when be say nah him dey carry Barcelona play for free? This most be a joke..

Guy ...even for freetown Messi won't play for free...
Baba japa when Barca need am most
Cos Owo nikoko o

Lol... I remember when he was at barca and his fans said , noooo, Messi can't leave barca cos they treated him when he was young and ill... that he is forever grateful and loyal to them .. . I told them that the only reason messi was with barca is because barca is one of the best teams in football and that if it was valencia or villareal that did same, he wud hv left them since...they said I was talking trash ... the moment barca madness start for pitch as iniesta, xavi puyol mascherano dani Alves villa comot.. omo ..baba japa , abandon sinking ship for money men ... I hv always said that footballer are like these modern women, there is nothing like loyalty... they only want trophies and money , if u like build statue put for field in their honor, they will japa once they hv a better offer and opportunity...

If he so much loved barca and appreciated what they did for him, he wud hv actually played for free cos that team got financially wrecked trying to keep messi... just like a struggling man trying to keep his trophy wife...
Guy man japa like oshimole wife as they kicked him out of APC chairmanship

You expect Messi to play free for you, under the leadership of a fraud and useless coach like koeman.

I just believe this statement is a joke.

Ok

Laporta, are you working for free?

Yeye talk.

Are the board member working for free?

Jagbajantis intete!

No be only free. Make e kuku give una food and drink untop.

Lol pessi will never do that

Clown. As Barcelona’s president, are you working for free?

Shen gbo werey

Now send dis to your dad

E be like say this new Barca president go worst pas the old one which kind statement be dis

I thought buhari was the only stupid person leading

No

He has a colleague in lapota

Ok
You thought he will play for free

Why would he play for free, nah him papa get bercelona?


I'm a Ronaldo fan, even Ronaldo can not play for free, no free things in this our era again...

Gone are those days when Beckham played for free for psg before he retired, it can't happen again in this our era...

Shey nah stone Messi go use pay him pikin school fee?

The person that ran the club down is gonna play for free? Joke of a club

Free ke

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Even if he play for Eyimba, he must collect ego

Play for free,���
Abii him weh be president no dey collect salary

After spending so much on messi, the deserve jara service...

Messi made sure he milk barca dry before going...

Messi fans coming for my head...

DO YOU KNOW WHO MY GOAT IS?

HE can never do such to his club!!!!!