Bartomeu: 'Messi's future is here'
The president of FC Barcelona has spoken on Catalan TV station TV3's ‘Onze’ programme. Josep Maria Bartomeu has analysed both sporting and institutional aspects of the club, speaking about Quique Setién, Messi, LaLiga and the transfer market. Here are his most important statements.
Messi
"With Messi we talk, we have talked and we will talk. He is the best player in football history, he has years of football ahead and he is in top form. I have no doubt that he will continue at Barça, his future is here in football and after football.”
Barça's future
"We've met with Setién to plan next season; we have a lot of young players, like Ansu Fati and Riqui Puig, and those who will come like Trincao and Pedri.”
Quique Setién
“Quique Setién will lead the team in the Champions League, a Champions League with a different format; and the two remaining league games.”
"Our will is to fulfill contracts, and Setién has a contract for the following season."
LaLiga post-confinement
“We believe that VAR should be more on par with the league. There have been decisions that have always gone in the same direction. It is not an accusation, we want there to be a very clear VAR protocol, it must be reviewed. What has failed is the management of VAR.”
"VAR has not made the league more difficult, but we have had a series of draws."
“After the restart, there were some parts of matches that didn't go so well. But playing every three days is a very big effort for the players and perhaps there will be fatigue.”
“There is still a chance to win the title, and the team is competing at a good level. The team is showing ambition."
“We have won eight leagues out of eleven, and that is historic. During these years, Barça have been the best.”
The naming rights for Camp Nou
"Two international companies based in Catalonia are in talks for the naming rights."
Income reduction
“Until the pandemic we were the sports entity with the highest income in the world. Following the coronavirus, business revenue has declined sharply, as has happened to many other major European clubs. We have stopped depositing a lot of money, from the store or from ticketing."
Transfer market
“It is a moment of internal reflection. This transfer market will be atypical due to the drop in income we have had during the pandemic, both for Barça and the other clubs. It is true that we have spoken with Inter Milan for Lautaro, but we have to wait and see how everything evolves.”
"As for Neymar, I don't think PSG wants to part with any of its great stars this season."
The PricewaterhouseCoopers audit
“The subject of the audit is practically settled. We are analysing the report to close the case. There is no corruption and it was very important to demonstrate it. It was also important to make it clear that we had no responsibility for defamation of players.”
Barça Basketball
“We invest 5% of the club's income. We follow the line that we set ourselves from the beginning.”
"It was time to bring in Jasikevicius. We also have to thank Pesic for his work, because in recent years he has laid the foundations at the Palau Blaugrana.”