Ex-Barcelona president Bartomeu hits out at Laporta administration - 'Would've resolved fair play issue and Messi would've stayed' | Barca Universal

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

"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."

"Inflating those losses was a major mistake by Joan Laporta's board. It led to losing Financial Fair Play."

Joan Laporta has been re-elected as president of Barcelona, receiving significant support for his efforts to restore the club's financial health. His predecessor, Josep Maria Bartomeu, faced criticism for financial mismanagement, including inflated contracts and questionable transfers. Bartomeu defended his tenure, claiming the club was profitable and attributing financial issues to the pandemic. He criticized Laporta's board for allegedly inflating losses, which he argued harmed the club's financial fair play status. The contrasting views highlight ongoing tensions regarding the club's financial management.

Read at Barca Universal