‘Bartomeu not telling the truth about Messi’s contract renewal’

FC Barcelona are a club where the alarm bells can go off at any time and now Augusti Benedito has challenged the claims of the current president regarding Messi’s contract renewal.

Benedito, who is a former Barcelona presidential candidate has lodged a censure motion against the current Barca board led by Josep Bartomeu. To date, Benedito’s censure motion has gained 10,715 signatures according to reports from Spain. In order to trigger a referendum, Benedito requires 16,570 signatures in total.

Essentially Benedito has now brought forward another argument that had been brewing in Barcelona – the contract renewal of Lionel Messi.

In July, Bartomeu told the media on two separate occasions that Messi had renewed his contract. Then in September, Bartomeu had said that Messi does not need to sign the contract because his (Messi’s) father already signed it.

Benedito claims that the Barca president is lying. He said: "Bartomeu's said that the contract is signed and it's just lacking the protocol. That contract, without Leo's signature, is not valid. Even though his father has signed, it needs the player's signature.

“This doesn't help with getting it signed. It's possible that Bartomeu's presence is the main obstacle [for getting it signed]. I hope that the presdient explains everything truthfully. It's not the first time he's lied."

Why Messi has not signed his contract renewal remains a topic of interest and anxiety in Barcelona. Perhaps, Messi wants to see where this censure motion goes because signing the contract right now would be seen as a vote in favour of the current president.