BARCELONA (SPAIN) – In the wake of Barcelona skipper Lionel Messi announcing his intention to leave the Catalan side on Tuesday, irate fans demanded the resignation of club president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
Hundreds of fans gathered outside Barca’s Camp Nou stadium chanting “We love you, Messi stay, Messi stay!” and “Bartomeu resign!” on Tuesday night.
“I am very upset, for me Barca is Messi and Messi is Barca. They are the same, he is the symbol of Barca … They should erect a monument in Camp Nou. I don’t think this (departure) should be allowed to happen,” said 80-year-old fan Joana Polo, wearing a Barcelona face mask.
The Argentine soccer star’s decision has caused turmoil in the team two weeks after their 8-2 devastating trouncing by Bayern Munich.
“It’s a huge outrage. I never thought this would ever happen … you can take defeats in sports but I can’t handle Messi leaving,” said Oriol, 40. “We will defend him until death. He is not the one to blame. The blame is on (Barcelona’s) board.”
For a record six times, Messi has been named the world’s best player. But he has been unhappy for the past 12 months over the manner in which the club is run by Bartomeu. He criticised club officials for forcing players to take a pay cut during the pandemic crisis.
Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.
