Josep Maria Bartomeu is not a popular figure at Barcelona, at least not anymore, having been accused of multiple counts of corruption, which is coupled with the financial mismanagement of the club.
However, the former Barcelona president has never been shy about coming out in public to talk about his controversial time at the club.
In a recent interview with Cadena SER (h/t SPORT), Bartomeu talked about Messi’s time at the club and his eventual departure, as well as the Negreira case, among others.
On Messi’s stay and departure
Bartomeu was firm in his defence of the decision to keep Messi at the club despite the famous burofax requesting to leave.
“I’m very happy that Messi stayed with us; I would have kept him until the Qatar World Cup,” he said, adding that contract renewal talks had already been underway with the Argentine, who has recently purchased a stake in Spanish club Cornella.
“I tried to renew Leo Messi’s contract; it was essential to maintain our income level and because we were missing that player who brings a higher level of performance,” he added.
He also revealed that a move to Miami for both Messi and Luis Suarez had been discussed long before it eventually happened. “There had already been talk of a stint in Miami with both Messi and Luis Suarez,” he said.
Laporta wanted Messi to stay. (Photo by Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images)
On the current Barcelona squad, Bartomeu offered a telling reflection. “All these young players on the team, with Leo, would have learned faster. They are learning a lot, but they would have done so more quickly.”
“One or two more seasons at Barça, at least until the World Cup, would have been very positive for Barça,” he added. “He won a World Cup and another Ballon d’Or, and we couldn’t enjoy him as Barça fans; PSG did.”
Negreira case and his biggest mistake
Bartomeu was equally firm in distancing the club from any wrongdoing in the Negreira case, suggesting that the club only paid a company that produced reports.
“The reporting service has nothing to do with whether Barça had better or worse refereeing. We didn’t pay the vice president of the referees’ committee; we paid a company that produced reports,” he said.
Finally, Bartomeu identified one decision he would reverse. “My biggest mistake was not rising to the occasion when it came to firing Zubizarreta; if I could look back, as president I wouldn’t have made that decision,” he concluded.
