La Liga

CATALAN police have searched the offices of LaLiga giants Barcelona and arrested former president Josep Maria Bartomeu in a corruption investigation.
Last year, it was claimed that the club had paid a social media company to plant online criticism of key club figures in a scandal dubbed ‘Barcagate’.

Catalan police searched Barcelona’s offices on Monday morningCredit: AFP or licensors

Deputy chief of the Mossos criminal investigation division Marta Fernandez was pictured during the searchCredit: AFP or licensors

Lionel Messi, Pep Guardiola, Xavi and Gerard Pique were among those allegedly targeted by I3 Ventures in a three-year smear campaign.
These included attacks on Messi’s reluctance to sign a new contract at the Nou Camp while Pique was targeted following his project to revamp tennis’ Davis Cup.
Barcelona’s then-president Bartomeu denied the accusations last February.
But eight club members launched an official police complaint, prompting an investigation that has been ongoing for several months.

It is alleged that the approximate £170,000 fee I3 Ventures charged for each of six contracts were just below the threshold at which the club’s commission are required to sign off spending.
On Monday, police seized evidence and arrested four individuals, with further arrests not ruled out according to Catalan radio station Cadena SER.
Bartomeu was reportedly detained along with former advisor Jaume Masferrer – fired by the club in October for his role in the scandal – chief executive Oscar Grau, and legal head Roma Gomez Ponti.
Police were picture raiding the club offices, namely the legal, financial and compliance departments.

Josep Maria Bartomeu, club president at the time of the contracts being handed out, has reportedly been arrestedCredit: EPA

Barcelona’s offices were also raided by police on Monday morningCredit: Getty Images – Getty
A police spokesperson told AFP that ‘arrests were taking place’, before adding: “We are in the process of carrying out an operation right now with agents of the financial crimes unit.”
In a statement, Barcelona insisted they will collaborate with officials in their investigation.
Th club stated: “Before the entry and search by the Catalan Police force this morning at the Camp Nou offices under the instruction of the Instructing Court number 13 in Barcelona, which is in charge of the case relating to the contacting of monitoring services on social networks, FC Barcelona have offered up their full collaboration to the legal and police authorities to help make clear facts which are subject to investigation.
“The information and documentation requested by the judicial police force relate strictly to the facts relative to this case.
“FC Barcelona express its great respect for the judicial process in place and for the principle of presumed innocence for the people affected within the remit of this investigation.”
Documents relating to the case were also taken in a search conducted last July.

Police seized evidence for their investigation and confirmed four arrestsCredit: AP:Associated Press

Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique were among the stars said to have been targetedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Official charges against those involved have not been ruled out, for unfair administration and corruption between individuals.
Once the claims emerged in early 2020, former chief Bartomeu admitted to hiring I3 Ventures for social media analysis but insisted the agreement had no link to criticism of Messi and Co.
Claims have also been made that Barcelona paid significantly above, around 600 per cent, the market rate for the service.
An external audit by PricewaterhouseCoopers was commissioned, which found no wrongdoing on the club’s behalf and the contracts were cancelled.
Speaking last year, star striker Messi confessed to finding the situation ‘strange’ while Pique slammed the club’s actions.
He said in October: “It’s a disgrace the club actually spent money to criticise us.
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Oscar Grau, appointed as the club’s chief executive in 2016, has also been arrestedCredit: EPA

The scandal dubbed ‘Barcagate’ has been investigated for monthsCredit: EPA

“It’s an atrocity as a Barcelona player to see my club spending money – money they’re now asking for from us – to criticise not just external people with a previous relationship to the club, but players still here.”
In a statement released by Barcelona last year, the club explained: “FC Barcelona roundly deny any relationship, and furthermore, the contracting of services linked to social media accounts that have broadcast negative or disparaging messages related to any person, entity or organisation that may be, or have been, related to the club.
“I3 Ventures, a service provider to the club, has no relationship with the accounts mentioned and, if any relationship was to come to light, the Club would immediately end their contractual agreement and bring about any necessary legal action to defend their interests.
“As such, FC Barcelona confirm that it has services contracted relating to the monitoring of social media with the aim of analysing both positive and negative messages about the organisation itself.”
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FORMER Arsenal star Gabriel Paulista was reduced to tears when asked about current side Valencia’s ‘f***ed up’ decline this season.
The tough tackling Brazilian left the Emirates in 2017, and went on to win the Copa del Rey with his new team two years later.

Gabriel struggled to fight back the tears

The Brazilian was asked about Valencia’s decline this season

But the Spanish side have fallen on tough times this season, amid financial troubles leading to a number of top stars being sold.
Yesterday’s 3-0 loss at Getafe saw Javi Gracia’s men slip to 14th in the LaLiga table – just five points above the relegation zone.
Gabriel, 30, fronted up after the game, but was left in tears after being asked about the proud club’s sharp fall into a relegation battle this season.
After initially trying to keep a straight face, he could eventually hold back the sobs no longer, showing his passion and disappointment at the team’s predicament as his face crumpled.

He said: “It’s a bummer hearing that.
“A club as big as Valencia and hearing that is a bummer.
“But we have to get out of this because we’re Valencia and the club deserves more.”
After concluding the interview, Gabriel stood pitchside with his head buried in his shirt.

Gabriel had just played in Valencia’s 3-0 defeat to GetafeCredit: Rex Features
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Valencia played Champions League football as recently as last season.
But with owner Peter Lim withdrawing his funding, the 2004 LaLiga winners were forced to cut costs by selling key players.
Star midfielder Dani Parejo and Arsenal old boy Francis Coquelin left for rivals Villarreal.
While young starlet Ferran Torres was sold to Manchester City.
Rodrigo, who scored the winner in the 2019 Copa del Rey win, departed for Leeds – while Geoffrey Kondogbia headed to Atletico Madrid to replace Thomas Partey.
Amid these sales, Gracia was handed no transfer budget to improve his squad, instead having to cobble together loan deals to patch up the considerable holes left behind.

Man City star Ferran Torres was among those sold by Valencia last seasonCredit: PA:Press Association
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BARCELONA boss Ronald Koeman was forced to interrupt his own press conference today, after suffering a nose bleed.
The Dutchman sat down to take questions ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Sevilla in LaLiga.

Ronald Koeman faced the press before being interrupted by a bloody noseCredit: Getty Images – Getty

But he was left cursing in Spanish as he exited to deal with a nose bleed.
This is the second time that such an incident has happened in a Koeman press conference.
Barcelona swiftly confirmed that their manager is fine.
And AS reporter Javi Miguel has revealed that the frequent nose bleeds are a symptom of blood thinners that Koeman must take following his heart operation last year.

The 57-year-old was rushed into hospital last May with heart trouble, where it was revealed that his coronary vein was blocked.
Koeman had to have a tube inserted in order to keep the blood vessel open, before making a full recovery.
The former Everton and Southampton boss agreed to become Barcelona boss three months later.
And things have been tricky for the club icon, amid unrest behind the scenes and with a presidential election looming that could significantly shape the future of the club.

Koeman, 57, has overseen a difficult season at BarcelonaCredit: Splash News
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Asked today if he’d be voting, however, Koeman revealed that he’d be leaving it to the club’s ‘socios’ (members).
He said: “The elections? I will not vote because I think I don’t have to vote.
“I have to wait, and the socios will decide.”
Going into tomorrow’s match, Barca sit third in the LaLiga table, having clawed back the gap to leaders Atletico to just five points.
They are on the brink of Champions League elimination, however, having been thumped 4-1 by Paris Saint-Germain last week.
And they were previously knocked out of the Copa del Rey by tomorrow’s opponents Sevilla, with their season now seemingly hanging on league performance.
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LIONEL MESSI is following in the footsteps of best pal Luis Suarez – by building a bar 100 yards away from the Uruguayan’s restaurant.
The Barcelona talisman may be missing his old strike partner, sold to Atletico Madrid last summer, on the pitch but will soon have even greater ties to him off it.

A construction site in Castelldefels will soon become Lionel Messi’s bar

The site is just 100 yards away from Luis Suarez’s restaurant

In 2017, Suarez opened ‘Chalito’, a trendy restaurant on the beachfront of Castelldefels, a short hop down the coast from Barcelona city centre.
Just 100 yards away, Messi is setting up shop on the same road.
SunSport pictures show a construction site behind a steel fence that will eventually become the home of the Argentine’s bar.
Messi, 33, has called Castelldefels home since 2009 and was joined by neighbour Suarez, 34, when he moved to Barcelona from Liverpool in 2014.

The pair regularly holiday together and often shared the school run when their kids attended the same school.
Last summer, former Barcelona star Cesc Fabregas joined Messi and Suarez, along with their partners Daniella Semaan, Antonella Roccuzzo, Sofia Babi for a luxurious yacht holiday on the Mediterranean.

Uruguayan forward Suarez opened Chalito in 2017Credit: Instagram

Naturally, Messi was one of the first visitors to the trendy restaraurantCredit: Instagram
The £40,000-a-week vessel hosted the trio’s families as they cruised around the Balearic Islands before touching down on Formentera.
At the same time both Messi and Suarez looked set for moves away from the Camp Nou, as their futures appeared to become intrinsically linked.

Visits to each other’s houses fuelled speculation over their decision but only the former Ajax man left.
Since moving to Atletico, Suarez has guided his new side to the summit of the league while his 16-goal tally means he shares the top of LaLiga’s scoring charts with his old pal.
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The pair share one of football’s strongest friendshipsCredit: Instagram / @leomessi

Messi and Suarez enjoyed a holiday together last summer on a £40k-a-week yachtCredit: Splash News

Messi hit out at Barcelona bosses for allowing his strike partner to leave.
When Suarez’s exit was confirmed, he wrote online: “It will be strange to see you with another shirt and much more to face you.
“You deserved the goodbye for what you are: one of the most important players in the club’s history, achieving important things both as a group and individually.
“And not to get kicked out like they did. But the truth is that at this point nothing surprises me. I wish you all the best in this new challenge. I love you very much.”
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