Lionel Messi says he plans on returning to Barcelona after his time atPSG is over.- "I would like to go back and contribute what I can because it's the club I love," said Messi.
Lionel Messi has revealed he intends to return to
The Argentine left Barcelona as a free agent in the summer due to the club's financial problems. Barcelona's money woes meant the club couldn't afford to extend the contract of the 34-year-old, meaning he was essentially forced to leave the club.
The 34-year-old had accepted a salary reduction of 50% in order to stay put, but Barca was still not able to register him with La Liga due to its spending limit for the season being cut by almost $350 million.
He went on to join PSG on a two-year contract, shortly after which Laporta told RAC that he had hoped that the forward would have offered to play for free in order to remain at Barca.
Speaking with Spanish outlet SPORT on Monday, Messi hit back at Laporta for calling his character into question.
"The truth is, as I explained when I left, I did everything possible to stay," he said.
"Never at any moment did they ask me to play for free. They asked me to reduce my salary by 50% and I did it without any problem. We were willing to help the club more. My desire and that of my family was to stay in Barcelona.
"No one asked me to play for free, but at the same time the president's words were inappropriate. It hurt because I don't think there was any need to say that.
"It's like taking the ball from you and not accepting the responsibility or taking charge of things. That makes people think and generates doubts that I don't think I deserve."
Six-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi scored 672 goals in 778 games for Barcelona and won 34 major trophies during his 21 seasons in Catalonia.
He has so far been unable to replicate that form since joining PSG, scoring just three goals in eight matches, while also failing register a single goal or assist in five Ligue 1 games.
Asked by SPORT about a potential return to Barcelona after his time in France comes to an end, Messi said: "I don't know if I will [go back] when my contract expires in Paris.
"But what is almost certain is that we're going to return to live in Barcelona and our life will be there.
"I have always said that I would love to help the club and be useful. I would love to be a sporting director at some point. I don't know if it will be in Barcelona or not. Or if it will be something else.
"If there's the chance, I would like to go back and contribute what I can because it's the club I love and I would love them to keep doing well, growing and being one of the best in the world."