Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman said on Wednesday that he is “devastated” at the detention of the former president Josep Maria Bartomeu following an investigation into the club’s financial issues.
On Monday, Bein Sports channels reported on that the Spain’s police detained Barcelona former chairman Josep Maria Bartomeu over charges of carrying out social media campaigns against certain people and entities, that were said to be opposed to former president Bartomeu’s administration.
Bartomeu was one of four arrests in what police called “an investigation into alleged crimes related to property and the socio-economic order”.
“It’s not good for the image of the club,” said Koeman, according to BBC,
“When I heard the news I was devastated because I know Bartomeu and Grau well,” said former captain Koeman, who returned to the Catalan club as manager in August,”
“I feel bad for them, I had good moments with them in a short space of time and Bartomeu has always been an exceptional person to me.
“We have to wait and see what happens (with the investigation). I wasn’t here then so I can’t talk about. it, we just have to focus on our job and in turning the tie around.”
What is the BarcaGate?
In February 2021, the Spanish newspapers claimed that Bartomeu agreed with I3 Ventures to publish social media posts that blasted current and former players, as well as other club legends.
Barca’s ex-president made a contract with this company, which works on social media, for a million euros to blast anyone, who blasted him, including current players. glorify it and destroy competitors.
