Bartomeu talks Messi contract leaks: “It’s totally false that I leaked his contract”

Speaking on TV3’s Gol a gol program, former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has denied any involvement in the leaking of Lionel Messi’s contract. The entire world has been taken aback after El Mundo published the details of the Argentine star’s contract.

“It’s totally false that I leaked Messi’s contract. Leo deserves what he earns both sportingly and commercially. Without the pandemic, Barça can pay these figures perfectly fine,” said Bartomeu. The pandemic has severely affected finances across football, however, Barcelona are in an especially tight situation.

Lionel Messi signed his latest contract with Barcelona in 2017, which is due to run out on June 30 this year. If the leaks are completely true, the mega-deal, said to be the biggest in sports history, earns La Pulga 555,237,619 million euros. Since the leaks surfaced, the contract has been subject to immense scrutiny with doubts over its fiscal viability. Messi however, seemed clearly unfazed with all the drama as he was one of the central figures in Barça’s La Liga win over Athletic Club Bilbao last night.

The Catalan media has come under heavy criticism for their handling of the issue, with fans quick to point fingers at certain figures within the club. Many believe the leaks are another attempt from people within the club to force Messi’s departure. Josep Maria Bartomeu is one of the prime suspects, however, the former president remains firm that he has nothing to do with the chaos.

Barcelona, in an official statement, announced shortly after the news took the world by storm, that they would take appropriate legal action against the newspaper. The club also denied any responsibility for the document’s publication and stated their support for Messi against any attempt to damage his reputation. Messi in typically splendid fashion, silenced his critics on the pitch last night, with a stunning free-kick that brought his goal tally for Barça to 650.