Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu insists that neither Lionel Messi nor any other Barca player is at the club for the money.
Bartomeu has been interviewed by Mundo Deportivo and in a wide-ranging discussion touched on the signing of Douglas, the club’s busy summer and the importance of hiring Luis Enrique.
When the subject of Messi was raised, the President was asked if Messi had only remained at Camp Nou because he was so well paid.
“No. In the club there is no player in the squad for the money,” Bartomeu insisted.
“Nobody. Here you don’t play for money. Everyone, including Messi, would earn more somewhere else. They have all had many offers.
“When a Barca player plays just for the money they will have to find another club because the club can’t afford it. Players tell us what they’re offered but we don’t ask.”
Bartomeu went on to count up the money earned through sales this summer – some €93m, by his estimation – and went on to discuss one of the players on whom that money was spent.
“Luis Suarez had been dreaming of Barca for a long time,” he revealed.
“The club has always had a No.9 and has always done well. I remember we won the treble with Samuel Eto’o and in one season we won six trophies with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and in 2011 we won the Champions League with David Villa.
“Suarez is a beloved player and we made a great effort to sign him. He had a high clause and we tried to reduce it as much as possible. As always, the key was the player wanted to be at Barcelona.”
