MX23RW : Tuesday, March 11 05:40:17| >> :120:14527:14527:

Messi admits "weird things happening" at Barcelona amid social media scandal

Messi admits
© Reuters
Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu was forced to deny accusations of unethical social media practices.

Lionel Messi admits he sees "weird things happening" at Barcelona after the club president was forced to deny accusations of unethical social media practices.

A Spanish radio station claimed the LaLiga champions hired a social media firm to criticise key figures associated with the Catalonia side in a bid to protect president Josep Maria Bartomeu's reputation.

It was suggested I3 Ventures had been hired to publish stories that damaged the image of several players and ex-players, after they had criticised Bartomeu.

Barcelona denied any wrongdoing in a statement on Monday night, with Bartomeu saying on the club website on Tuesday: "In (the) first place, and so that no one is left in any doubt, Barca has not contracted any services to disparage neither players, nor politicians, nor former presidents. It is completely false.

"We will defend ourselves wherever necessary via all means at our disposal against anyone who accuses (us) of such practices."

While admitting they had worked with the company, Barcelona have denied all suggestions that they have acted against the club's players.

Messi, in an interview with Catalan sports publication Mundo Deportivo as reported by L'Equipe, says he will wait to see if there is any truth in the accusations after Bartomeu's statement.

"I was a little surprised because I was not present, I was travelling," Messi said.

"When I arrived, I discovered it all bit by bit. The president told us the same things he said in public, the same things he said at a press conference: what was the situation, what had happened. And I cannot say more.

"The truth is that I see weird things happening. But it was also said that there would be evidence. We will have to wait to see if it is true or not. We can't say much and we have to wait and see what happens. Frankly, the subject seems strange to me."

The social media row comes just a few weeks after Messi spoke out against sporting director Eric Abidal who had suggested the players did not work hard enough under former manager Ernesto Valverde.

Messi says he will wait and see if there is any truth in the accusations
Messi says he will wait and see if there is any truth in the accusations (Nick Potts/PA)

Valverde was sacked in January, with Quique Setien brought in as manager until the end of the season.

That brought about doubts over the 32-year-old's future at the Nou Camp but Messi expressed his happiness in the city.

"I love Barcelona although I miss Rosario very much," he added.

"This is my house, I was here longer than in Argentina. I love Barcelona, ​​the place where I live, Castelldefels, and I live a life that I like very much.

ID:390208: cacheID:390208:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6008:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Matteo Guendouzi in action for Arsenal on October 6, 2019
Read Next:
Tuesday's papers: Guendouzi, Smalling, Braithwaite
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona26183571254657
2Real Madrid27176457263157
3Atletico MadridAtletico27168344182656
4Athletic Bilbao271310445242149
5Villarreal26128648361244
6Real BetisBetis2711883533241
7Mallorca27107102633-737
8Rayo Vallecano279992929036
9Celta Vigo27106114041-136
10Sevilla279993236-436
11Real Sociedad27104132328-534
12Getafe2789102322133
13GironaGirona2796123540-533
14Osasuna2671273237-533
15Espanyol2677122537-1228
16Valencia2769123045-1527
17Leganes2769122440-1627
18AlavesAlaves2768133040-1026
19Las PalmasLas Palmas2766153045-1524
20Real ValladolidValladolid2744191862-4416


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!