Bartomeu vs Lionel Messi: Power Of Electorate vs Power Of Football

Barcelona has been a battleground since the 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich between Club's president, Josep Bartomeu, and Captain, Lionel Messi with both giants using the power at their disposal in the tussle.

AllNews reports that Bartomeu has the electorate power; an executive appointed to a position through election while Lionel Messi is Barcelona's greatest footballer, with his alien-like ability that has helped him and the club win numerous trophies since the early 2000s.

READ ALSO: Barcelona's President, Josep Bartomeu Is 'Set To Resign' As Club's President

Bartomeu served on the board of Barcelona during Joan Laporta's presidency as head of the basketball section along with Sandro Rosell, who resigned due to differences with the then-president. He then served as Rosell's vice-president of Barcelona from July 2010 to January 2014 after they won the election with 61.35% of the vote of the members of the club. Following the resignation of Sandro Rosell in January 2014, due to the so-called 'Neymar case'.

Bartomeu was elected with the club's constitution as the 40th President of Barcelona, to complete Rosell's term. He, in 2016 appointed Eric Abidal as sporting director and Ernesto Valverde as Head coach. These appointments and other decisions such as the purchase of Paulinho, Vidal, Ousmane Dembele, the appointment of Quique Setien as head coach were made after the dismissal of Valverde.

It is also under the reign of Bartomeu - Barcelona suffered their worst Champions League comeback losses; Roma (3-0 after a 4-1 win), Liverpool (4-0 after a 3-0 win), and the recent 8-2 loss to Bayern in Portugal.

After the loss to Bayern, the president exercises him electoral power dismissing coach, Setien, and Eric Abidal as the culprit of the loss. Calls all over Spain and specifically in Barcelona for the President resignation but part of the electoral power is that he can not leave until the next election which is scheduled for March 2021.

Lionel Messi has been Barcelona best player for over 14 years bow scoring over 634 goals for the club, making him the club all-time goal scorer, 6-time Ballon d'Or, 2-time UEFA best player in Europe, 2-time FIFA World best player, 7-time Pichichi winner, and Barcelona captain.

His goalscoring ability, his passes, vision, and intelligence have not just made him Barcelona's most prized asset but also Barcelona fans' most loved player and even in the football world.

He, (Lionel Messi) had a huge fall out with the President of the club, Bartomeu earlier before now but they had always found common grounds. The recent fall out was when his conversation with the new coach, Koeman was leaked - with the conversation deemed confidential.

In the wake of these events, Barcelona appointed another head coach, Ronald Koeman who has been going through the club cutting players out but his latest pound of flesh is the Captain closest friend and club legend, Luis Suarez. He was told earlier on Monday that he would not be counted on for the next campaign season. 

On Tuesday, Lionel Messi sent Barcelona a fax message saying he wants to leave the club, which was backed online by Luis Suarez and club legend and former captain Puyol.

Respeto y admiración, Leo. Todo mi apoyo, amigo.

— Carles Puyol (@Carles5puyol) August 25, 2020

He said in a tweet "Respeto y admiration, Leo. Todo mi Apoyo, amigo" which means respect and admiration, Leo. All my support, Friend.

Messi message has dropped like a bomb on the football world with every sports news talking about the power tussle at the club.

The announcement has led to protest in the city requesting the club president to resign. If he does resign, Messi might be inclined to stay at the club which means the Power of football trumps the electorate power, if he does not, Messi leaves and he stays as president then - Electorate power trumps the power of football.