Former Barcelona chairman, Josep Maria Bartomeu has refuted claims as regards leaking Lionel Messi’s contract to the media.
As you were informed by this platform that a detailed deal of 555 million euros between Messi and the Calatan giant, Barcelona was divulged to the world by a Spanish media giant, El Mundo.
It was reported that Barca’s number 10 gets hold of fixed incomes and bonus payment which sum up to 138 million euros per annum.
But the club, through a statement, quickly stated that they were not responsible for the leakage of the deal of the Argentine, insisting on taking legal action against the Spanish media outfit.
But suggestions were pointing fingers to the former Barca chief-who left office last year- amid the Messi transfer saga. But Bartomeu said he has no hands on the act
“It’s a very serious issue and it’s totally illegal to leak professional contracts,speaking on TV and making accusations is easy, but it’s not a joke and this will end up in court.” Bartomeu said
“I hear certain media suggest that someone from the outgoing board or I have leaked this contract. And this is totally false.” He declared
“This is a very serious issue, it is totally illegal to filter professional contracts and this will end up in court because neither Barca nor Messi can accept that this crime comes to nothing.
“I don’t know who it was. In fact in the club only four or five people have access to the contracts, so do the Cuatrecasas lawyers who participated in the negotiation and the LFP also has a copy of all the players’ contracts.”
Meanwhile, attention is on the huge amount of money received by Messi, but Bartomeu backed the club captain that he deserves every penny and the club can afford to fund his contract, no thanks to the COVID-19 that hurt club managements in Europe.
“The player deserves the amount because he generates more than that, both for his sporting contribution and his commercial contribution,” Bartomeu said. “Without the crisis due to the pandemic, Barca can easily pay these figures and those of the other players.” he backed Messi
It will be expected that the club act upon their words on going the legal way so that light can be shed on hidden issues as touching the Argentine contract with the club, plus exposing the snitch in Barca’s camp.