I hoped Messi would offer to play for free: Laporta
Barcelona president Joan Laporta admitted on Friday he hoped Lionel Messi would change his mind about leaving the club and offer to play for free.
Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain in August after Barca decided not to renew the Argentinian's contract due to La Liga's strict salary limits.
"There came a time when both parties saw that it would not be possible. There was disappointment on both sides," Laporta told Catalan radio station RAC1.
"He wanted to stay but they also had a lot of pressure because of the offer they had. They knew if he didn't stay, he would go to PSG."
Laporta continued: "I hoped Messi would do a u-turn and he would say he would play for free.
"I would have liked that and I would have been all for it. It is my understanding La Liga would have accepted it. But we cannot ask a player of Messi's stature to do this."
Laporta reiterated the club's atrocious financial situation meant they were unable to keep Messi on the same terms.
Barca recorded losses of 481 million euros ($556 million) last season, with a gross debt of 1.35 billion euros.
"We had the conclusions of the audit (on Wednesday) and the investment in Leo would have put us at risk," said Laporta, who also suggested Barcelona could yet sign up to a deal with investment fund CVC Capital Partners.
La Liga told Barca in August they could keep Messi if they agreed to the deal, which involved the league selling 10 percent of the commercial business, including television rights, for the next 50 years, in exchange for 2.7 billion euros.
Barcelona, Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao rejected the offer.
"We do not need more debt," said Laporta. "I understand La Liga clubs are suffering. We have not ruled ourselves out of this operation but they have to change it. They are trying to reformulate the deal."
Laporta also confirmed his support for Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman, whose future has been uncertain in recent weeks.
"I think he deserves a margin of confidence," said Laporta. "I asked him if he trusted the team and he said, 'Of course I trust them. I need to get the injured players back'. He wants to continue at all costs and show this team is competitive."
-
Amazon Android Days sale 2024: Save on unlocked phones, tablets, and moreBusquets 'trying to digest' Messi departureDehydration is on trend, according to Kanye West's latest fashion showSamsung Gear VR is now so much easier to use17 Spectacular Outdoor StaircasesU.S. moves closer to THAAD's permanent stationing in GuamU.S. moves closer to THAAD's permanent stationing in GuamNike and Apple ask: Are we running today? Internet responds: No.The Weird, Wonderful World of Water TowersApple patents a way to transform your iPhone or iPad into a MacBook
- ·“大体老师”的故事:以生命点亮生命
- ·Tsitsipas calls for coaching to be allowed during matches
- ·Busquets 'trying to digest' Messi departure
- ·The long goodbye: Barca say adios to Messi
- ·Webb telescope discovers 6 rogue worlds. They didn't form the way you'd expect.
- ·Park to delegate full authority to medical experts over MERS
- ·Japanese scholars urge Abe to offer apology for history
- ·Athlete's daredevil wheelchair stunt officially opens the 2016 Paralympic Games
- ·Sports minister says audits into football, badminton federations set to conclude in Sept.
- ·Seoul mayor lambasts Samsung Medical Center
- ·Amazon's Kindle is currently a bargain for Prime members
- ·MERS spreads to more facilities
- ·Tesla considers adding a new ‘stuck detection' feature to Cybertruck. Here’s why.
- ·N. Korea unlikely to close Gaeseong complex on wage row: S. Korean bizman
- ·'There's a place at Google for you,' Google CEO tells girls at coding competition
- ·N. Korean human rights bill unlikely to pass Congress this year again
- ·World's first green ammonia plant is now open for business
- ·NIS sees high chance of NK's provocations ahead of S. Korea's April elections
- ·Amazon's Kindle is currently a bargain for Prime members
- ·U.S. moves closer to THAAD's permanent stationing in Guam
- ·9 Planetariums to Get Lost in the Cosmos
- ·2024广东乡村歌手大赛地市赛区邀请函速递→丨赛事指南①
- ·Barshim, Tamberi 'love
- ·Hints that Apple Pencil might be coming to the iPhone 7
- ·Tesla Robotaxis aren't coming in August, it seems
- ·NIS sees high chance of NK's provocations ahead of S. Korea's April elections
- ·Sinkhole swallows up car, injuring 2 in Seoul
- ·'Sunless Sea' is a wild 350,000
- ·Chopra wins India’s first athletics gold
- ·国家大宗蔬菜产业技术体系在茂名开展调研活动
- ·Best smart home deal: The Amazon Smart Thermostat is just $63.99
- ·Arshad Nadeem loses final, but wins hearts
- ·S. Korea forms MERS task force on national image
- ·Hints that Apple Pencil might be coming to the iPhone 7
- ·[Herald Review] Tori Kelly thrills fans, hints her love for Korean artists
- ·The new head of the White House Office of American Innovation has never tweeted