Bartomeu calls superstar's exit 'an opportunity'

BARCELONA - Neymar dismissed Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu as a "joke" as the war of words between the Brazilian superstar and Barca's beleaguered board heated up on Tuesday.

In interviews with Catalan newspapers Mundo Deportivo and Sport, Bartomeu claimed Barca would be better off without Neymar this season following his record $264 million move to Paris Saint-Germain last month.

With his handling of Barca's haphazard transfer policy under heavy fire, Bartomeu described the loss of Neymar as an "opportunity" for Barca to rebuild its midfield rather than pile resources into a front three of Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

"The trident was very good but it had its consequences," Bartomeu told Sport.

"It is an opportunity to return to the collective football in the middle of the field, which traditionally was Barca's strength.

"It is an opportunity, with a new coach, a new project. We need to stop being pessimistic!"

Bartomeu also criticized Neymar and his father and agent Neymar Sr's exit strategy.

"This president is a joke," Neymar replied in a comment about the news on social media site Instagram.

A vote of no confidence has been launched by former Barca presidential candidate Agusti Benedito that could oust Bartomeu if it receives enough support from the club's members in the coming weeks.

Neymar's departure sparked a shopping spree from Barca, which landed 20-year-old French winger Ousmane Dembele for an initial $125 million fee from Borussia Dortmund and Paulinho for $48 million from Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande.

But Barca missed out on a number of other targets, including Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho, blaming rampant inflation in the transfer market caused by PSG and Abu Dhabi-backed Manchester City.

La Liga has asked UEFA to investigate both PSG and City for breaches of financial fair play rules.

"Qatar and Abu Dhabi are two countries that have two clubs," said Bartomeu.

"If Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Real Madrid or Arsenal buy a player from you, you know (the money) comes from football.

"But these two clubs distort the market."

Bartomeu also insisted a four-year contract extension for Lionel Messi has been signed by the player's agent and father, Jorge Horacio Messi.

Barca announced an agreement with the five-time World Player of the Year in July, but Messi himself has not yet put pen to paper amid rumors he is unhappy with the way the club is being run.

Messi's current deal expires in 2018, meaning he could leave Barca for free next summer.

"It is all agreed and signed," Bartomeu said. "There are three contracts: one with Messi's foundation, that is signed by the president of the foundation and the player's brother; a contract for Leo's image rights, that his father and administrator of his company have signed; and the work contract that Leo's father has signed.

"We expect Leo to sign off on it very soon."

Agence France-presse

(China Daily 09/07/2017 page23)