Josep Maria Bartomeu
Barcelona president’s resignation marks the end of a turbulent tenure
It was a moment many Barcelona fans had been waiting for – club president Josep Maria Bartomeu had arranged a televised speech to announce his resignation. “I am communicating my resignation from my position of president, along with my entire board of directors. It’s a composed and relaxed decision, agreed with all my fellow directors,” the 57-year-old confirmed.
“The easiest thing after the Champions [League defeat] was to resign, but one had to take decisions amid an unprecedented global crisis,” he added. “Who would have ensured that Messi stayed? Who would have hired a new coach?
“What we have experienced these last few months exceeds any limit. Me, my family and colleagues have been insulted and threatened.”
The speech marked the end of a whirlwind period for the Spanish entrepreneur, who was fighting a vote of no-confidence brought against him by club members, and had, just the day before, rejected calls to resign after a meeting with his board.
According to Spanish media outlets, his surprise U-turn was confirmed after the Catalan government refused to postpone the no-confidence motion until mid-November, as Bartomeu’s board had proposed.
Resigning under such scrutiny would not have been the way he envisaged his reign ending after taking over from Sandro Rosell in 2014, having previously served as the club’s vice-president, and after such a promising start at the helm.
One of the first important decisions of his tenure was also one of his best – hiring former midfielder Luis Enrique as coach led to an historic treble in 2014-15 and the club’s most recent Champions League success.
However, things began to meander off course in 2017, when Luis Enrique resigned due to personal reasons and Neymar left for Paris Saint-Germain. Since that summer, over €800 million has been spent, with underwhelming returns. Last season, an ageing squad failed to pick up a single trophy and was humiliated by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
To survive such a disappointing season, Bartomeu needed allies, but he has fallen out with several senior players. In February, he was accused of hiring a company to use social media in order to boost his own image, while criticising senior players – including Lionel Messi. The summer transfer saga involving the Argentine did nothing for the president’s reputation either: no matter who wins elections, the club’s greatest player is still the most powerful man at the Nou Camp.
Messi said he felt deceived by Bartomeu: “He hasn’t kept his word. The truth is that there is no project at this club. They just plug holes as and when things happen.”
Gerard Pique recently signed a new deal, yet even he has criticised the club hierarchy: “I ask myself: ‘How can it be that the best-ever player to have played the game, who we have been lucky enough to enjoy, wakes up one day and sends a burofax because he feels like he’s not being listened to?’” He said to the La Vanguardia newspaper. “Messi deserves everything; the new stadium should be named after him.”
Financially, Barca announced losses of €97m for the 2019-20 economic year, and blamed the coronavirus for a €203m decrease in revenue. Catalan police have also accused the club supremo and his board of corruption for personally benefitting financially from deals done on behalf of the club.
Not one to go out quietly, Bartomeu dropped a final bombshell in his farewell speech, by revealing that his last action was to ratify Barcelona’s participation in a European Super League.
La Liga president Javier Tebas, however, did not hold back in his response: “Unfortunate statement on his last day [at Barcelona], joining a weak and imaginary competition which would be their ruin. It confirms his ignorance about the football industry. Sad end for a president with successes and lately many mistakes.”
A more pressing concern for Barca is the immediate direction of the club.
A management committee has now taken charge, with three months from its inception to arrange the elections. There will then be an additional 40 days for candidates to present themselves, with the likes of Joan Laporta, Victor Font, Jordi Farre, Toni Freixa and Lluis Fernandez all presumed in the running.
With that being the case, Barca fans may still have to wait until March next year to vote in their next supremo, but, for now, most will just feel relieved to see the back of Bartomeu.
“He hasn’t kept his word. The truth is that there is no project at this club. They just plug holes as and when things happen.” Lionel Messi