Bartomeu breaks the silence about his conflict with Leo Messi

During last August, Leo Messi has become the great concern of Barcelona. On the 25th of that month, the Argentine star sent a burofax to FC Barcelona asking for the termination of his contract through the safeguard clause that was activated at the end of the season. A request that was not answered by the club, which considered that this clause had already expired on 10 June.

Leo Messi resigned himself to staying at FC Barcelona, ​​although he later attacked Josep Maria Bartomeu and his board of directors both through a controversial interview with “Goal” and in his farewell message to Luis Suarez, in which he took the opportunity to get the club back on track. The Barça president decided to break the silence on the matter in his appearance on Monday.

Josep Maria Bartomeu assured that at that moment he decided not to face Leo Messi dialectically and that he will continue to do so, but he discussed his decisions. “The priority was that Messi was in the new project and I decided not to face a dialectical discussion. He accused me of forcing his farewell to save the accounts. Well no, we put the interests of the club first and we did not want to strengthen a direct rival. We made a decision by accepting usury, ”he commented.

“Messi? Let’s focus on the interests of the club”

The FC Barcelona president has never thought of resigning due to the scandal with the Barcelona captain, which he considers fundamental for the sporting project. “Because of the Messi case it never occurred to me to resign. For FC Barcelona, ​​for the club, the team, having Messi and having him retired here is the best option for everyone. The project is very interesting with young people and veterans, like Messi. And I think we will win a title with him this season, “he said.

In this sense, Josep Maria Bartomeu made it clear that he understood Leo Messi’s anger after the win against Bayern Munich. “I understand everyone’s positions, empathy is important. In the case of Leo, it is good to be angry because it is not good to accept defeat and we are all angry. But there was a deadline for him to announce whether or not he was going unilaterally. He didn’t and here he is. We all want him to retire at Barça, ”he said.

Thanks to Ronald Koeman

Josep Maria Bartomeu also had words for Ronald Koeman, who had to handle both the Leo Messi case like that of many great actors who have left. “We have decided to bet on Ronald Koeman, the ideal manager to face a restructuring of the squad. Today I want to thank him for accepting the position, he has to face unpopular measures and courageous decisions that are already bearing fruit”