The self-inflicted siege of Barcelona has endured another disruptive week after scandalous allegations were leaked out that president Josep Maria Bartomeu had hired a ‘reputation management company’ solely to discredit some of the clubs legends and even current players, especially Lionel Messi, online.
Despite Bartomeu’s frantic and vocal denial of all the claims levied against him, there’s no doubt it’s been another stormy week for the club’s hierachy in a season increasingly fraught with upheavals both on and off the pitch. More like off.
The Camp Nou loyals stand was in no way uncertain as they made their feelings quite clear during the match against Eibar which saw their longtime idol, Messi, help rout the visitors 5-1 with his own contribution of 4 goals, hence emphatically ending his months-long goal drought.
Most noticeably, while the delighted Barca fans in the stands were rapturous over the home team’s rousing victory, a sea of white hankies waved by fans greeted the eyes amidst chants calling for Bartomeu’s resignation.
In another probably linked development, Bartomeu’s adviser Jaume Masferrer was reportedly suspended on Friday after a board meeting. Speculation is now arising that Bartomeu is already feeling the pressure escalating weekly and is even contemplating calling for early club elections. It does make one wonder what the incumbent president’s game is if indeed he has been acting dodgy in pursuing his own shady agenda for self preservation.
The fallout from BarcaGate looks set to continue next week with the Barcelona fans having made their feeling towards the president crystal clear.
At a tangent to the discordant state of affairs in the club’s hierarchy, Martin Braithwaite’s arrival as Barcelona’s emergency signing after Ousmane Dembele was ruled out for six months met with warm approval from the club and the fans as the Denmark international made an instant impression on his debut on Saturday.
Although only handed 20 minutes, the 28-year-old had a hand in two goals, earning praise from Quique Setien and Ivan Rakitic after the match.
Setien believes Braithwaite will prove to be “an extraordinary signing” and will “help the team greatly” while Rakitic said “he is going to contribute and he is a good guy.”
After the match, Braithwaite joked about not wanting to wash his kit after hugging Messi and elaborated on how the Barca captain “tried to make me feel comfortable and looked to find me with his passes.”
Although the Denmark international’s signing this week came initially as a total surprise, more like a shock in fact, and had attracted plenty of criticism, it’s heartening to see him putting in a good performance and enjoying the rapport with his teammates on his first Barca appearance.