BARCELONA president Josep Maria Bartomeu is lying about Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta signing new contracts at the club.
Barcelona’s president is facing a vote of no confidence after failing to win a trophy last season and a rocky summer which saw the club lose Neymar to Paris St-Germain.
And things could be about to get worse for Bartomeu, with the futures of key duo Iniesta and Messi unclear.
“Why has he felt it necessary to lie about Messi and Iniesta?” Hunter said on the Transfer Window Podcast.
“In the case of Iniesta, the club captain, 33, World Cup goalscorer, he didn’t actively call Bartomeu out.
“He simply answered a question from reporters ‘Bartomeu says there are heads of agreement in place and broad understanding that everything has been ticked and you’ll re-sign’.
“And Iniesta said to the reporters ‘No, it’s not’.
“He’s said over and over again ‘I want the club’s interests to come first, I don’t want to be part of a public bargaining row’ and given the type of person he is I take that to be fact.
“So why has Bartomeu said everything is in play and there is a broad agreement which Iniesta has been forced to say is not true?
“In terms of Iniesta, it’s absolutely clear Juventus (are keen). That the prestige of having an Andres Iniesta for two or three years is very high.”
“What he’s said now is Messi hasn’t signed anything but what’s happened is Messi’s foundation have signed one contract, his father has signed another contract, all that’s needed is the playing contract (being signed).
“As of now, Messi has been available to sign on the dotted line and Bartomeu has said ‘everything is complete’ as he said with Iniesta.
“But if Lionel Messi doesn’t sign, all of the other things become invalid.
“Come January 1, he’s free to do whatever he wants.”
Messi and Iniesta are likely to be in Champions League action tonight when Barcelona travel to Sporting Lisbon.
No comments:
Post a Comment