Barcelona president hoped Lionel Messi would 'play for free'

It was said for months that Barcelona would not be able to retain all-time great Lionel Messi for the 2021-22 season because of La Liga regulations regarding salary structure, and the 34-year-old ultimately put pen to paper on a two-year contract that includes an option for a third season with French giants Paris Saint-Germain. 

Per Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens of ESPN, Barcelona president Joan Laporta told Spanish radio station RAC1 he hoped Messi would've been willing to remain with the Catalan club on more than just a massive discount. 

"I didn't get angry with Messi, but you reach a moment where both parties see that it cannot be and there is disappointment on both sides," Laporta explained about the matter. "I know he desperately wanted to stay but there was also a lot of pressure on him because of the offer he had.

"He already had the offer from PSG. Everyone knows he had a big offer. We knew from him that was the case."

Laporta continued: 

"I hoped until the last minute there would be a U-turn and he would say: 'I'll play for free.' I could have been convinced. I understand La Liga would have accepted it, but we could not ask a player of Messi's quality to do that." 

According to a Forbes piece published in May, Messi is the world's second-highest-paid athlete for the year at $130 million, and it's no secret he's one of the richest footballers to ever live. That doesn't, however, mean the six-time Ballon d’Or winner should've been willing to reject a salary when he could instead sign for one of the world's biggest clubs, join an attack that features former Barcelona teammate Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, and also earn what he deserves for his many accomplishments over the years. 

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