Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu spoke to ‘Catalunya Radio’ regarding Lionel Messi’s exit, the ‘Negreira case’, and Joan Laporta’s leadership.
Josep Maria Bartomeu has once again returned to the Barca spotlight. Speaking to ‘Catalunya Radio’, the former Blaugrana president reflected on Lionel Messi’s departure in August 2021, detailing the sequence of events that led to Leo’s exit under the Laporta administration.
“Much has been made of Leo’s influence during his time at Barca, but Lionel Messi never dictated signings or coaching appointments. He enjoyed no special privileges. Beyond the pitch, he had no say in decision-making. In August 2020, when Messi asked to leave, I refused because he was our most prized asset and a vital commercial driver,” Bartomeu explained.
“I could not sanction a free transfer while he was still under contract. I believe he understood that, which is why he stayed. He expected a new board to take over within months and offer him a renewal. The shock came when the time for that renewal arrived, and they let him go,” Bartomeu added, before turning his attention to the ‘Negreira affaire’.
The former president was characteristically blunt on the matter: “Everyone has defended their own record regarding the ‘Negreira affaire’. My involvement is under scrutiny until 2018, when we decided to sever ties with Javier Enriquez. I was the only one to petition the judge not to hand over Barca’s documentation to Real Madrid, as they had requested. I felt it was unjust for Real Madrid to be granted access to the club’s private records. Refereeing reports were common practice among many clubs, not just Barca.”
Bartomeu also mounted a defence of his own presidency: “Being president of Barca is no easy task. During our tenure, we achieved a great deal. When people critique the legacy, they often overlook the structural growth: we built the Johan Cruyff Stadium, modernised La Masia, developed numerous facilities, and laid the groundwork for the Espai Barca project with all the necessary permits and plans—all alongside a trophy-laden era on the pitch.”
Addressing Laporta and the club’s financial ‘levers’, he remarked: “I am concerned about Financial Fair Play. In 2021, Barca exaggerated their losses—for what purpose, I don’t know. Inflating those losses and failing to acknowledge the €500 million impact of the pandemic caused us to fall foul of ‘Fair Play’ regulations, despite La Liga warning of the situation. It could have been avoided. The ‘levers’ are simply a divestment of assets that haven’t even been used to reduce debt,” he asserted.
Finally, Bartomeu weighed in on Laporta’s re-election. “I fully expected him to win. As Barca members, we want a winning team that we can enjoy, so it is natural for the incumbent to retain support. I have no relationship with him. The last time we spoke was during the 2015 elections; I won, and he never offered his congratulations,” he concluded.
