FC Barcelona president, Josep Maria Bartomeu has been a controversial figure at the club. Many a time fingers have been raised against him and his board.
The Lionel Messi transfer saga has finally ended as the Argentine decided to stay and gave an exclusive interview to Goal. He has revealed the truth behind his transfer wish.
Messi told Goal: “….I looked further afield and I want to compete at the highest level, win titles, compete in the Champions League. You can win or lose in it, because it is very difficult, but you have to compete.”
“At least compete for it and let us not fall apart in Rome, Liverpool, Lisbon. All that led me to think about that decision that I wanted to carry out.”
Lionel Messi: "The truth is that there is no project at this club. They just plug holes as and when things happen. I would never go for a war against the club of my life. That's why I'm staying". 🚨 #FCB #Messi #Barcelona
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 4, 2020
He further added: “The truth is that there is no project at this club. They just plug holes as and when things happen. I would never go for a war against the club of my life. That’s why I’m staying.”
This exclusive Lionel Messi interview can act as a catalyst for the Socios to submit a vote of no confidence. Barcelona are one of the few clubs where fans hold a major right in the decisions of the club. The Socios are the group of fans who has the right to vote in the club’s internal matters. So if the Socios get the required amount of signature they can give a vote of no confidence and Bartomeu will have to resign.
After hearing the truth about no concrete plans or project for taking the club forward, it has outraged all the Barcelona fans.
Other than that the way he has treated the club legend is another shameful thing. Messi has always given his all to Barcelona but Bartomeu didn’t grant him his wish and wanted to take this matter to the court. But Messi didn’t want to take Barca to court due to his love for the club and decided to stay.
Messi said: “I thought and was sure that I was free to leave, the president always said that at the end of the season I could decide if I stayed or not,”
“Now they cling to the fact that I did not say it before June 10, when it turns out that on June 10 we were competing for La Liga in the middle of this awful coronavirus and this disease altered all the season.”
“And this is the reason why I am going to continue in the club. Now I am going to continue in the club because the president told me that the only way to leave was to pay the €700 million (£624m/$823m) clause, and that this is impossible.”
He further added: “There was another way and it was to go to trial. I would never go to court against Barca because it is the club that I love, which gave me everything since I arrived.
“It is the club of my life, I have made my life here. Barca gave me everything and I gave it everything. I know that it never crossed my mind to take Barca to court.”
Bartomeu has also been charged with corruption by the police, in a recent development as reported by El Mundo.
According to the report, Bartomeu paid media company I3 Ventures 6 times higher than their market value to tarnish the reputation of his competitors and club legends Messi, Pique, Xavi, Puyol and Guardiola.
If Bartomeu’s management is sacked, then Messi would probably like to work under a new board who can restore Barca to their former glory and finally feel happy at his home, Barcelona.
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