Bartomeu resigns as Barcelona president

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has resigned, with the entire board also stepping down from their posts, Spanish newspaper Sport reported on Tuesday.

FC Barcelona tweeted a while ago confirming the news. 

Bartomeu took to the stage in a club facemask and indeed confirmed his resignation along with the rest of the board. 

"It's been an honour to oversee this club with the interest of the members always at heart," said Bartomeu in the press brief.

"It's been an honour to oversee this club with the interest of the members always at heart."

Bartomeu stated that much lies had levelled against his regime and these were motivated by political agendas and by those hoping to present their candidacy next year at presidential elections. 

The board have accepted today that FC Barcelona will participate in a possible European Super League, added the leaving president.

"Why did I not resign earlier"?  Who would have ensured Messi stayed? Who would have hired a new coach ? Who would have agreed salary drops for the squad? I could not let the club be run be external figures on a temporary basis," he added further.

Bartomeu had been facing growing resentment in the last year due to the club's worsening finances and the team's decline on the pitch, which came to a head with their 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals in August.

Bartomeu, who had also been widely criticised after talisman forward Lionel Messi requested a transfer following the Champions League humiliation, was facing a vote of no confidence from the club's supporters.

"Why did I not resign earlier"?  Who would have ensured Messi stayed? Who would have hired a new coach ? Who would have agreed salary drops for the squad? I could not let the club be run be external figures on a temporary basis."

Although the club was able to keep hold of Messi, with the longtime Barca star staying to avoid having to take the club to court, Bartomeu's position has been under scrutiny for months.

The president had been due to officially end his tenure next year, with elections called for March, but the club's members called for a vote of no confidence in an effort to get Bartomeu out immediately.

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 Barca board repeatedly tried to postpone the vote but, on Monday, local authorities rejected the club's push to delay the proceedings.

He took over from Sandro Rosell in 2014.

During his time in charge, Barca won La Liga four times as well as the 2014-15 Champions League, but his time in charge will largely be defined by the club's failings in his final seasons.

Having struggled to find value in the transfer market since Neymar's departure to join Paris Saint-Germain, Barca finished the 2019-20 season trophyless.

Their 8-2 loss to Bayern only furthered unrest, with Messi's request to leave proving the final straw for the president.

Messi told Goal in September that Bartomeu "did not keep his word", with former Barca star Luis Suarez saying that he believes Messi will stay at Barca if a new board arrives.

Bartomeu said on Monday that he believed that Messi could lead Barca to titles this season, admitting that he could not let the Argentine leave for the good of the club.

And now, it is Bartomeu that is leaving, as he ends his time in charge of Barca after nearly seven years.

Barcelona are set to face Juventus on Wednesday in the Champions League.