Barcelona President Wanted Lionel Messi To Play For Free

Barcelona felt a huge part left when Lionel Messi to join Paris Saint-Germain which was what they least expected the player would do following the confession of the club's president Joan Laporta, who openwd up that he hoped the player would change his mind and "play for free" for the club. 

Messi was first reported to have reached a two-year contract agreement with Barcelona before things suddenly changed and it was announced by the club that he can leave as a free agent. Upon that announcement, the Ligue 1 side raced to sign the attacker and the rest is history. 

Laporta told a Spanish radio station RAC 1, that it was a big "disappointment" for the club to see him leave. He went on to say: "I hoped Messi would do a U-turn and would say he would play for free."

The 33-year-old spent most of his career since academy at Barcelona where he wo10 league titles and was crowned six-time as Fifa best football player of the year.