Bartomeu Breaks His Silence: Neymar's Mega-Move and COVID Nailed Barça's Coffin Shut

Remember Josep Maria Bartomeu, the former Barcelona president who stepped down amid a storm of boos and balance-sheet nightmares? Well, he's dusted off the mic for a chat on El Matí de Catalunya Ràdio, spilling the beans on why Barça nearly went bust and that whole Lionel Messi 'burofax' drama. It's like your mate finally admitting why the pub tab got out of hand – but with €500 million losses and transfer sagas thrown in.

Bartomeu reckons his era wasn't the disaster some make it out to be. Sure, the Camp Nou faithful chanted "Bartomeu dimissió!" long before the world shut down, but he's pointing fingers elsewhere. And no, it's not all on him – or so he says.

Blaming Neymar's Exit for the Wage Bill Blowout

Let's rewind to summer 2017. PSG rock up with €222 million to snag Neymar Jr. via his release clause, leaving Barça scrambling. "That sparked the wage bill rocketing," Bartomeu insists. Suddenly, retaining stars meant doling out eye-watering renewals for the likes of Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, complete with release clauses bumped to €400–700 million.

It was a retention arms race against oil-backed state clubs and the Premier League's chequebook warriors, he argues. Fair point? Maybe, but those salary hikes turned Barça's books into a horror show. By the time Neymar had bedded in at the Parc des Princes, Barcelona were playing defence off the pitch too.

Then came the killer blow: COVID-19. "We were flying high, revenue pouring in, then bam – €500 million wiped out over 2019-20 and 2020-21," Bartomeu laments. Pre-pandemic Barça were solid, he claims, but empty stadiums and slashed commercial deals pushed them to the brink. No wonder protests raged outside the Camp Nou – even if the rot arguably started earlier.

Messi's Burofax Bombshell: 'I Said No'

Ah, the saga that broke hearts worldwide. August 2020: Messi fires off a burofax demanding a free exit. Bartomeu? Straight up: "No chance, Leo. You're our golden goose." Contract in hand, income generator supreme – why let him walk?

Messi stayed that season, eyeing a new board to sort his future. But enter Joan Laporta, who swept back in promising the world... then cited the finances to block a renewal. "They fired him," Bartomeu snipes with a hint of schadenfreude. Ouch. It's the ultimate 'I told you so' from the deposed don.

Bartomeu resigned weeks later under shareholder pressure, dodging a no-confidence vote. The 8-2 thrashing by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarters didn't help his PR, nor did those humiliating exits defining his tail-end years.

Legacy: Trophies, Bricks, and a Flick of Approval

Villain or victim? Bartomeu paints a rosier picture. Sure, the last year was grim – no silverware after early Champions League glory (2015 win), four La Liga titles, and four Copa del Rey cups. But don't forget the infrastructure: Estadi Johan Cruyff and revamped La Masía academy are his stamps.

He's no fan of Laporta's mob, but tips his hat to Hansi Flick's appointment. "Best move lately," he grins, claiming the current squad's backbone is his handiwork. Cheeky, innit? As Barcelona chase La Liga again under Flick, Bartomeu's ghost lingers – a reminder that running the world's priciest club is tougher than a Champions League final.

Love him or loathe him, this interview's a belter. Barça fans might scoff, but it's got you thinking: was it all Bartomeu's fault, or did Neymar's payday and a pandemic do the damage? Grab a pint and debate it out.

(Drawing from insights reported by SI Soccer)