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Messi: 'Nobody asked me to play for free. Laporta’s words hurt me'

Sport

"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

"I took a cut of over 50% and I was willing to help the club even more. President Joan Laporta’s words hurt me - I did not deserve it,” Messi said. 

Joan Laporta had said in a press conference 

The comment from Laporta painted the Barca legend in a dark light with some Cules going as far as asserting that Messi left Barca for money. 

Could Leo Messi actually play for Barca for free? You asked, we answered

 could've only taken a 50 per cent pay cut – a bigger one wasn't possible because of the Spanish law regulations.

In reality, it seems like there were other options. In brief, let us explain the situation.

1. Indeed, Messi couldn't have played for 

 for free as it's prohibited by Spanish law.

2. The Spanish Ministry of Employment and Social Security set a minimum wage for a football player which is €6,500 per month for a Primera footballer (his current wage is about €3.2m per month, so it would be like playing for free for him).

' point did only refer to women's football in Spain.

The worrying truth is that Joan Laporta seemingly 

 of playing for €6,500 per month. Leo's 50 per cent pay cut wasn't enough for La Liga to register his new contract and the Barcelona board didn't insist on turning to other options.

'I was hoping he would play for free': Laporta fires shot at Messi

"I was hoping he would say he was willing to play for free," Joan Laporta said of 

's departure in his recent broadcast, exclusive to RAC 1.

 would have accepted it, but we cannot ask a player of Messi's level to do this. 

. Everyone knew that he had a very powerful offer," Laporta added. 

Laporta's comments sound more like an indirect jibe at Messi's commitment to Barcelona. 

The former Barcelona skipper left the club in August and signed a mouth-watering deal with PSG within a couple of weeks. 

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Mohammed Ibrahim

Let's get Laporta out and bring Messi back

Ogochukwu Ikeje

very very dangerous traitor and a diabolical liar!!!!!

Anthony Jackson

@Terri .. do your research well. That your fake president Laporta could have done more to keep Messi. A lot of players at that time could be offloaded for Messi to stay. So don’t talk like, Messi never wanted to stay. Your fake politician president disgrace will surpass Bartomeo. He knows it !!  Wait and see

George2023

Laporta traitor , after using Messi’s name to win the campaign ,you kicked him out and expected him to play for free. Who does that ? You will feel the pain ,wrath of Messi. #Fake Laporta politician.

Now you regret and it too lates ….. I hate this manager

Barca🙏

I am sooo saaaad 😢😢😢. It hurts so bad to hear this from king Leo . Laporta is really something else’s 😕😕

Amoako Emmanuel

No be only for free because he doesn't have family's to feed, forget comments bro the truth is, this is the time for him to leave for the young ones to grow

DON HAZARD 

barcelonafan1634760725412681269

xA🤑uX😎eX🦁❤️💙

King of Barça

did you hear the interview, yes he would...... that's why Jorge Messi was mad and they just told him that they can register him that's it .

Baguidy

eren yeager

So Messi would have been able to play for Free. Or atleast postpone his salaries Payment within the  next 5 years.

Laporta scammed us damn!!!

Player		G
Artem Dovbyk	Girona	18
Jude Bellingham	Real Madrid	17
Ante Budimir	Osasuna	16
Borja Borja Mayoral	Getafe	15
Alexander Sørloth	Villarreal	15

Messi: 'Nobody asked me to play for free. Laporta’s words hurt me'

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