Barca’s former president Josep Maria Bartomeu released a statement on Friday, insisting that he never heard about the leaks and had no involvement in them. The context centers on Leo Messi’s contract and its connections to Gerard Piqué, as reported by Mossos dEsquadra and summarized by El Periódico from the Prensa Ibérica group on Thursday. Bartomeu explicitly stated that he did not cause any leaks, did not permit any leaks, and did not have prior knowledge of the leak in question.
Bartomeu seeks removal of Messi contract leak from the Barcagate narrative
In legal notes, Bartomeu’s lawyer, Jose Maria Fuster Fabra, has already appealed to Román Gómez-Ponti, within the court overseeing the case, asking for the police report to be excluded from the judicial process. The appeal argues that the documents had been handed over to the former director of the institution, Oscar Grau, and to the former head of the club’s legal department.
Officials from Mossos said that the documents show that Oscar Grau and Román Gómez-Ponti aimed to disclose personal data of FC Barcelona staff members such as Messi and Piqué. Bartomeu was reported to have direct knowledge of these allegations, and there is consideration of whether others could be involved as collaborators. The report includes WhatsApp conversations indicating that Gómez-Ponti sought to publicize private information about club members. There are indications of offensive language directed at Messi and Piqué in private exchanges.
Public comments about Messi and insults within the club’s circles
The leaked messages reportedly depict attempts to question the handling of Messi by the club and to justify internal disagreements about public disclosure. Bartomeu is quoted as saying that some of the messages imply a broader concern that sharing confidential material could harm the club. He notes that access to Messi’s contract was limited to only a few individuals at the club and argues that leaking it would constitute a breach of confidentiality that damages the team’s interests.
In discussing the handling of the situation, Bartomeu references the broader history of the club and the decision to retain or part with key figures. He claims that maintaining Messi could have been a strategic decision for the club, and he reiterates that public release of private information is harmful to the institutions involved. The discourse surrounding these events highlights tensions between preserving private data and the expectations of transparency within a football organization.
The broader conversation includes discussions on freedom of expression within the club context, with Bartomeu suggesting that silent disagreements may be appropriate but public disclosures of sensitive information are not acceptable. He emphasizes that the club must protect its reputation and the privacy of its players, staff, and personnel, even when there are strong opinions about past decisions regarding Messi’s tenure and the club’s strategic direction.
Overall, the ongoing legal and media narrative centers on whether internal communications and personal data were mishandled, who was responsible for any leaks, and how the club should respond to allegations as it moves forward. The statements from Bartomeu and the associated legal actions illustrate the sensitive balance between accountability, privacy, and the public interest in football governance.