Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has addressed long-standing claims that Lionel Messi wielded significant influence over the club’s transfer decisions in his later years at Camp Nou. Bartomeu clarified that these claims are unfounded, emphasizing that administrative and recruitment choices remained the responsibility of the board and sporting directors, while Messi focused solely on his on-field performance.
Bartomeu stressed the purely professional relationship between the club and the superstar: "Messi did not decide on signings or coaches; he held no special privileges. All decisions off the pitch were handled by the sporting director and club board." He also reflected on Messi’s 2020 attempt to leave, explaining that a free transfer was impossible due to contract terms and financial reasons, which led to Messi staying with the team.
Regarding the club’s finances, Bartomeu countered the narrative of a “poisoned inheritance” often cited by the current administration. He asserted that Barcelona was on a strong growth trajectory before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the subsequent €500 million loss was a global consequence of the crisis. He criticized the inflation of losses that contributed to the club’s loss of financial fair play status.
This clarification about Messi’s role debunks popular media myths and refocuses attention on the complex challenges the club faced, where player influence was not the dominant factor in management decisions.
