Bartomeu speaks to SPORT about his renunion with freed Sandro Rosell
The Barça chief met with Rosell at a Madrid hotel on Wednesday after his release
There was double joy for Josep Maria Bartomeu on Wednesday. The Barcelona president learned in the morning that Sandro Rosell had been released from prison pending trial and in the evening the Catalans beat Real Madrid at the Bernabeu to reach another Copa del Rey final.
Bartomeu visited Rosell at the Gran Colon hotel in Madrid, where he spent his first night of freedom. Afterwards, the Barça chief, accompanied by directors Mestre, Moix and Lee, spoke exclusively to SPORT.
He explained that Rosell was "doing really well, in good spirits, really happy... not just him, the whole family. Of course, we are all happy that he has his freedom and now, along with [business partner] Joan Besoli, he can prepare his defence from home, with his friends and family, which is what we've been asking for for a long time. Being in preventative prison made no sense, now he's out, but with the prudence that the case requires."
Bartomeu also explained the more emotional side of his visit to Rosell, who he succeeded as Barcelona president in 2014.
"I've been visiting him in recent months, above all in Can Brians, but now he's out and after the semifinal that we won... he was with his family, his wife, his siblings, the lawyers... The hug was brutal."
The joy was doubled thanks to Barça 3-0 win at Madrid. "As the big Cule he is, he was really happy that we're through to another Copa final," Bartomeu added.
He added: "It's been the perfect day. I always said that Sandro is innocent, obviously we must have complete respect for the national court, but we're happy that this step has been taken, that both he and Joan Besoli can be at home and can attend the national court when necessary."
And on the Clasico, which Bartomeu enjoyed from the Bernabeu boxes, the Barça president smiled when asked how it is that Barça always seem to beat Madrid on their own turf: "The truth is that the players and everyone involved with the club wanted to reach the final. It was a different game. In the first half, Madrid dominated and had chances, but in the second half, Barça forced the result."
