Emili Rousaud's open letter after Leo Messi leaves Barca

Josep Maria Bartomeu’s former vice-president Emili Rousaud has written an open letter after Lionel Messi left the club.

He thinks the Argentine has not left in the right fashion, and that it wasn’t as friendly a departure as it should have been.

“Messi’s tears showed he did not want to go, the absence of his father Jorge, shows that something is not being explained and the lack of a hug with president Laporta a pure reflection of falling out of love. The greatest player in over a century is leaving us in the middle of August, with Barcelona half empty and the fans sad and shocked.”

He acknowledged the difficult economic situation but he was not convinced by the arguments put forward by Joan Laporta to say Messi could not stay.

“We have to recognise that president Laporta is right when he explains the club has colossal losses, an unsustainable salary base and have to take drastic measures. However, it seems to me that he is not right when he takes away Messi’s renewal offer arguing it’s the salary limit or the management of the previous board leaving the club in this catastrophic situation.”

Rousaud thinks it’s a strategic error to lose Leo. “Messi is a franchise player, he generates a lot of income, as well as through sponsors, ticketing and television audiences, his departure reduces the salary level but also the income, maybe by more than he would cost. Not his previous salary but the one he was willing to accept.”