Jordi Mestre: Barcelona's board is divided

Jordi Mestre, the former Barcelona sporting vice president who resigned in July 2019, said the club's board "is divided" and there are "irreconcilable differences" at the club.

"It's a divided board. I saw it before and that's why I left. We didn't all eat from the same plate. That was clear. Now this has exploded and it doesn't surprise me at all. I saw different sectors within the board which are irreconcilable, for me. It's a serious thing.

"I left for the reasons that I eplained, that had to do with part of the board. Now, from what I've read - because I haven't spoken to anybody - I see that it's a board thing, things are how they are, and when things don't work as you wanted, you see who is who."

On Emili Rousaud, who was to be Bartomeu's successor but was told to resign by the currrent chief, he added: "Dirty cloths should be washed at home, if you have problems and start to divulge them, you aren't doing anyone a favour. Barca as an institution are not in crisis, but there are problems. As a Barca director you have to bear pressure, you have to take it on.

"I know Bartomeu well, he knows how to take criticism. I don't think he's asked for them to resign because they have criticised him, I'm convinced that's not the case. He doesn't take decisions in the heat of the moment.

"Rousaud says that maybe Bartomeu is drunk on power but maybe it's the reverse and it's him who is drunk on power. If the president tells me to go, I would be sure that I would get my things and I would go."