The messages among the core members of the former Barcelona Football Club board, led by Josep Maria Bartomeu, reveal a management culture marked by hostility toward the club’s star players. Strong insults appear throughout the chats, with allegations of pressure and even blackmail aimed at players like Leo Messi and Gerard Piqué, who were frequently singled out as targets.
In these WhatsApp conversations, Bartomeu is described as speaking with particular venom. The source of the information is a former Barça legal services head, Roman Gómez Pontí, who compiled the material from his device with the assistance of the Mossos d’Esquadra. The discussions include other executives such as Oscar Grau, Jordi Moix, Oriol Tomàs, David Bellver, Pancho Schroeder, and Javier Sobrino, spanning roles from finance to strategy and innovation.
Mossos blame Bartomeu’s circle for leaking Messi and Piqué contract details
JG Albalat
Source of the leak
When El Mundo published Messi’s contract, the chat group erupted about who leaked the information. Gómez Pontí was bluntly disrespectful toward Messi on that day. January 31, 2021, marked the moment when many of the involved individuals had already exited the club. Among other things, he reveals a message from the Argentine star saying the president could adjust salaries of other players during the pandemic but not his own or that of his close circle. Luis Suárez is mentioned in relation to these disclosures.
“Bartomeu, you can’t be so decent with this gang leader. The club gave him everything and he spent his time chasing signings, renewals, and pushing a bossy, sponsor-led agenda. Should the renewals for Pinto, Suárez, and Jordi Alba be added to the figures, along with the renewal of Fati or the involvement of a manager tied to Messi? The pattern of blackmail and the rudest behavior toward the club and its workers is plain to see, from the person who owes his career to Barça to the drama of the pandemic.” In another message, a plan is hinted at to pressure salaries in a way that would spare some and target others.
“Yes,” Grau agrees. Bartomeu adds, “We may disagree on many things, but this kind of writing tarnishes the club’s image.”
Laporta, determined
In the chats, it is suggested that Joan Laporta was the likely author of the leak during the election campaign. A former director, Oriol Tomàs, is noted in connection with the narrative. Bartomeu grows skeptical about this theory, although there is a broad consensus that leaking the information could be a tactic to force his departure and to claim a political victory over 120 pounds in the process.
At one point Bartomeu states, “We’ve heard Leo many times, not always, but many times, and this non-pandemic contract was perfectly acceptable.” He stresses that the figure represents roughly 15 percent of the club’s budget when considering overall output.
In the moments before the club’s exit, a heavy defeat to Bayern in Lisbon brought sharp criticism of Piqué. Gómez Ponti urged changes at every level, even telling the player to reflect deeply on the club’s direction. El Mundo later published additional details about Piqué’s contract.
The timing of announcing player contracts amid the Covid crisis was mentioned repeatedly by Gómez Ponti. In a lengthy note to Bartomeu, he argued that the club must reduce the first team’s wage bill and criticized the behavior of players who resisted agreed safety measures, highlighting the broader economic impact on the club’s future.
Against Busquets
Sergio Busquets also faced criticism in these communications. The letter suggests replacing players with limited market value and transferring them with minimal compensation, arguing that such moves would help balance the club’s finances while acknowledging past support for the club.
The messages also reference anonymous voices from vice presidents, suggesting they should leave or endure ongoing isolation if they prioritize personal interests over the club’s wellbeing.
The conversations among the inner circle of Barcelona’s former leadership reveal a managerial climate marked by hostility toward heavyweight players. The tone is harsh, and the accusations of pressure and possible blackmail were directed at figures such as Leo Messi and Gerard Piqué, who emerge as frequent targets in the exchanges.
The chatter is described by Gómez Pontí, who led the legal team at the time, and is documented with material collected from his device in collaboration with the local authorities. The involved executives include Bartomeu, Grau, Moix, Tomàs, Bellver, Schroeder, and Sobrino, spanning financial, strategic, and governance roles.
Mossos blame Bartomeu’s circle for leaking Messi and Piqué contract details
JG Albalat
Source of the leak
The day El Mundo published Messi’s contract, the group reaction focused on the leak’s source. Gómez Pontí’s subsequent remarks toward Messi became a focal point. By late January 2021 many involved were no longer with the club. The notes also mention a message from Messi about salary adjustments during the pandemic, with Luis Suárez listed among those affected.
The excerpts relay strong phrases about loyalty, leadership, and the politics surrounding renewals, with a critical voice describing the club’s financial and ethical choices during a time of crisis. The narrative underscores how internal disagreements extended beyond sport and touched governance, contracts, and the club’s public image.
The broader takeaway is a window into the intense dynamics inside a storied club as it faced unprecedented economic stress and a complicated relationship with its most visible stars. The released chats offer a candid glimpse into the clashes that accompanied a turbulent period in the club’s history.
Against Busquets
The same correspondence mentions Busquets and weighs options for leadership changes, balancing financial realities with on-pitch loyalties. Anonymous critics call for departures or, alternatively, for continued distancing as the club restructures under pressure from owners, sponsors, and fans.
The material paints a picture of a club navigating a stormy era, where professional concerns collided with personal loyalties and public expectations, all within a single set of leaked messages that drew intense scrutiny from fans and media alike.