Ex-Barcelona president Bartomeu hits out at Laporta administration – ‘Would’ve resolved fair play issue and Messi would’ve stayed’ | OneFootball

Joan Laporta has been re-elected the president of Barcelona for one more term, and it is clear that he has support from most of the members and fans for having orchestrated the club’s return from financial ruin.

After all, it is well known at this point that Josep Maria Bartomeu’s board seriously damaged the club’s financial stability by handing out unnecessary contract renewals with inflated salaries and even pulling off dubious transfers.

In fact, there was much talk of even possible money laundering being involved, especially when one turns the clock back to deals like those involving Arthur Melo and Miralem Pjanic.

Bartomeu defends his board

Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu spoke to the media in a recent interview where he defended his board against all the accusations put on them by Joan Laporta and Co., including those of financial mismanagement.

“We did not bankrupt Barça. With us, we would have resolved the fair play issue and Messi would have stayed as well,” he began.

“Barcelona was not ruined at all, that narrative comes from the new board,” he added.

Speaking on how the club was actually profitable when he was the club president, Bartomeu said,

“During our period, including the presidency of Sandro Rosell and mine, the club generated significant profits and won titles.”

“The financial collapse only came with the pandemic, which caused massive revenue losses from stadium closures, stores, and other operations,” he added.

He was then asked about why the club under-reported losses in 2021 after Joan Laporta took over, Bartomeu took a dig at the current president saying, 

“The club approved €555 million in losses in 2021 but declared only €280 million to the tax authorities. Those were the real losses caused by COVID.”

Bartomeu has criticised the Laporta administration. (Photo by JOSEP LAGO/AFP via Getty Images)

“Inflating those losses was a major mistake by Joan Laporta’s board. It led to losing Financial Fair Play,” he added.

“Under our management, FC Barcelona would not have lost Financial Fair Play,” he concluded, taking the chance to back himself.

Bartomeu then explained how Laporta’s decision to inflate losses cost Barcelona their financial fair play and freedom on the transfer front.

“COVID losses could have been amortized over five years. The club would have stayed within the 1:1 rule instead of facing the current restrictions.”

Finally, the former president spoke about Barça Studios and the club’s sponsorship agreement with Nike, saying,

“Barça Studios was the most highly valued project by investors within FC Barcelona due to its potential in audiovisual content.”

“The agreement with Nike allowed the club to own its stores worldwide. However, there were tensions because Nike did not want the club to develop its own casual clothing line,” he added.

Source: SPORT