Messi said he would remain at the Camp Nou this season but hit Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu for breaking his word to let him leave at the end of last season.
Messi’s comments increased a pressure on Bartomeu
Barcelona presidential candidate Jordi Farre acknowledges that a recent interview with Lionel Messi helped increase the momentum for a vote of no confidence in the club’s current leadership. Messi said he would remain at the Camp Nou this season but hit Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu for breaking his word to let him leave at the end of last season. These comments only increased Bartomeu’s pressure when Farre pushed for a vote of no confidence within the club, which would allow for a presidential election by the end of this year. With Barcelona also currently struggling with finances. Farre is adamantly in need of change soon and acknowledges that Messi’s recent comments have helped accelerate his case. “Messi said that there was no project, and the board lied to him, all the ‘socio’ must sign the motion of censure,” Farre told reporters.
The Argentine stays and Barca can convince him to sign another contract renewal
“The signature collection got hurried after Messi’s quotes to Goal. The rhythm doubled after him, maybe he should have used a different strategy. But the important thing is that he stays and I still think we can convince him to sign another renewal”. Barcelona is very dangerous because there is a debt of €800 million and many payment obligations. Griezmann has been paid thanks to a private foundation, and FCB won’t start giving money until 2021, for example. “The new Camp Nou project must be stopped amid the financial crisis. So still no one knows when fans can return to the stadium anyway. We hope that all signatures for the censure proposal will be signed by September 17. If we do, there will be a referendum in 30 days, and if the result is against Bartomeu. The elections should take place around December 5, 2020.”
Manchester City were most closely associated with Messi’s move. But Farre said he was not worried about the prospect of competing with the club to move financially forward. “I am not afraid of clubs like Man City thanks to FFP (Financial Fair Play). FCB’s budget is still the highest in the football world and these clubs will not be able to earn the same income as FCB,” he said.