In August, Lionel Messi ended his life-long association with Barcelona to join Paris Saint-Germain. The Blaugrana boss Joan Laporta has claimed that he hoped the Argentine would’ve accepted to play for free since the club couldn’t afford his wages.
“With Messi, I do not get angry because I appreciate him. I did hope that at the last minute Messi would say that 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.”
the Spaniard told RAC1.
Barcelona begrudgingly bid farewell to Messi this summer owing to their disastrous financial situation. The club failed to fit its stars under its wage bill and had to sell – and loan – several of them just to meet the league’s requirement.
Apart from Messi, Antoine Griezmann left Barcelona to rejoin Atletico Madrid on a year-long loan deal while Emerson Royale – who the club had signed in the summer – completed a quick switch to Tottenham Hotspur.
Junior Firpo and Francisco Trincao ended their association with the Spanish giants to seal moves to Premier League outfits Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, respectively. Academy graduate Konrad De La Fuente left for Marseille, Jean-Clair Todibo for Nice, and Ilaix Moriba for RB Leipzig.
Several of Barcelona’s senior members had to take a pay-cut just so the club could register its new signings Sergio Aguero, Eric Garcia, and Memphis Depay – all of whom were signed for free.
