Magical Messi lifts Barca’s mood with double against Juventus – and eases pressure on under-fire president Bartomeu
President has faced calls for his head with Catalan giants in crisis
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu hailed Lionel Messi as the best player of all time as the Argentine lifted the mood at the crisis-ridden Catalan giants with a double in a 3-0 thrashing of Juventus to start their Champions League campaign.
Messi also set up Barca’s second, scored by Ivan Rakitic, as Barca exacted revenge for their 3-0 quarter-final defeat by Juventus in last season’s Champions League quarter-finals.
Bartomeu has faced repeated calls for his resignation after Neymar’s world record move to Paris Saint-Germain last month and Barca’s bungled attempts to replace the Brazilian in the transfer market.
Moreover, Messi is yet to sign an extension to his contract, which is due to expire in June, despite Bartomeu’s insistence that an agreement in principle has been reached with the player.
“Leo Messi is unique, he is the best player in the history of football and he has shown that again in the Champions League,” Bartomeu said.