The Queens Park Rangers midfielder – currently on loan to French side Olympique de Marseille – was the centrepiece of an article by columnist Martin Samuel.
In the piece, Mr Samuel referred to comments from Manchester United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard -- who called for a ‘gay hero’ in football – with the Mail man suggesting that Mr Barton ‘continues his quest for intellectual and social respectability’ by coming out as gay.
‘Instant credibility, instant respect, untouchable by the Football Association or future employers. His past misdeeds mentally reprocessed and explained,’ wrote Mr Samuel.
Mr Samuel even commented on Mr Barton’s recent press conference – in which he spoke to French journalists in English, but with a cartoon French lilt – by stating: ‘Let's face it, with that new accent, he's probably halfway there.’
According to the web site, Digital Spy, Lively Twitter user, Mr Barton – who revealed his pro-gay rights beliefs in a BBC documentary earlier this year -- responded by tweeting: ‘I will probably have to sue. I don't really need the money or the hassle. So I offer this as an olive branch.’ But then added: ‘Actually, no. There’s no olive branch. Enough's enough. It’s just wrong and a little bit weird why he would write this. In light of the Leveson enquiry, it seems a strange thing to print. I mean I have never even met the guy. He doesn't know me. Shocking.’