Bartomeu resigns as Barcelona president

Barcelona have confirmed that Josep Maria Bartomeu, its president, and his entire board have resigned.

The Spanish giants took to its Twitter page on Tuesday evening to confirm Bartomeu’s resignation.

“President Josep Maria Bartomeu announces the resignation of the FC Barcelona Board of Directors,” it wrote.

President Josep Maria Bartomeu announces the resignation of the FC Barcelona Board of Directors. pic.twitter.com/Xr9pBoUzHM

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— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 27, 2020

Bartomeu, who was at the centre of Lionel Messi’s criticism when the Argentine submitted his transfer request earlier this summer, had announced his resignation in a press conference after a board meeting at Nou Camp.

Despite commiting his futue to the Catalan giants, Messi had claimed that the ex-president lied to him while also criticising the club for not having a project.

“I am communicating my resignation from my position of president, along with my entire board of directors,” Bartomeu said.

“This is a thought out and relaxed decision, agreed with all my fellow directors.”

The decision to resign was reached after the Catalan government refused to postpone the no-confidence motion until mid-November as the board had proposed.

A total of 20,687 votes were gathered for the motion against Bartomeu, passing the threshold of 16,250 signatures required for the vote to go ahead.

The 57-year-old said leaving the job never crossed his mind as of Monday.

“There is no reason to present [my] resignation. It is not a good idea to leave the club in the hands of an administrator,” he said.

Bartomeu took charge of Barcelona in January 2014 following the resignation of Sandro Rosell.