Josep Maria Bartomeu

[JamDav1982]

I dont think he is trying to blame Tito for anything as it is quite clear none of the issues that Barca are in court for had anything to do with him.

To me he is trying to show that the decision to bring Neymar in was a footballing one and not one motivated be an opportunity to commit fraud.

I would have no doubt that both Tito did want him a year early - it was quite clear Barca needed better wide players. That and the fact Reals interest moved the goal posts.

Why does he not mention Real?
I would guess he wants the decision to be seen as a put footballing one that was in control of Barca and not a decision taken in desperation which caused laws to be broken.

 

[Flavia]

I dont think he is trying to blame Tito for anything as it is quite clear none of the issues that Barca are in court for had anything to do with him.

To me he is trying to show that the decision to bring Neymar in was a footballing one and not one motivated be an opportunity to commit fraud.

I would have no doubt that both Tito did want him a year early - it was quite clear Barca needed better wide players. That and the fact Reals interest moved the goal posts.

Why does he not mention Real?
I would guess he wants the decision to be seen as a put footballing one that was in control of Barca and not a decision taken in desperation which caused laws to be broken.

Neymar was rosell's dream signing. In fact, he was Rosell's signing. Had no problem occured, nobody would be mentioning Tito. He's dead, he can't say anything now. But saying it was because of Tito they got him one year earlier is a lie. There's no 2 ways about it. Florentino forced their hands.

I wonder where is the CB Tito "asked" them to bring as well.

 

[JamDav1982]

Clearly Rosell dreamed of Neymar as his statement siging but at the same time he was wanted by every Barca manager and virtually every big club in the world.

The only reason to mentio Tito is to show the manager wanted him and the over all reason he was wanted at club was for footballing reasons.

That is where Tito involvement begins and ends. He wanted Neymar just like almost every manager in world.

What do people think they are trying to pin on Tito?

 

[pacp_96]

Cadena SER radio reported exclusively as Barcelona president, Josep Bartomeu was questioned in court by judge Ruz. During his questioning, Bartomeu stated it was Tito Vilanova's decision to sign Neymar a year ahead of schedule, which pushed up the cost of the deal and led to tax fraud and fraudulent administration charges being brought against the club.

"In 2013, first-team coach Tito Vilanova asked us to bring in Neymar a year ahead of schedule because the team needed a player like him. Tito was undergoing chemotherapy in New York. We went to visit him and he said he wanted to make a change. He said he didn't want to sign Villa and wanted Neymar instead. Rosell headed up the negotiations with Neymar's father", Bartomeu told judge Ruz.

Bartomeu said up to three times that it was Tito Vilanova's decision to bring in Neymar a year earlier, which made signing him €42m more expensive.

Bartomeu also tried to dodge any responsibility for the deal, saying it was Rosell who negotiated the signing in secret and that he had no part in it.

In order to defend signing Neymar and explain his importance to Barcelona, club president, Josep Bartomeu used David Beckham's move to Real Madrid as many as three times as a comparison with the Catalans' move for Neymar.

"I always use Beckham as an example. I wanted a high-profile player who would attract a huge number of sponsors. We hadn't signed a player like Neymar before. He's so much more than just a football player, he's a global superstar", Bartomeu told judge Ruz in a statement released by Cadena Ser.

The Barcelona president wanted somebody with Beckham's "marketing pull": "In terms of that, I'd never seen anyone quite like Beckham before", he said.

Both articles are from Marca.

 

[Sumlit]

JavDav, it is straight up beyond bizarre how you continue to give these people the benefit of the doubt. Isn't it enough they are constantly and repetitively mired in turmoil and scandals? One bad turn right after the other? Surely by now these people have exhausted all your reasonable doubt, no?

Time and time again they reward your patience and faith with horse urine on your face, yet you continue to be willing to afford them the benefit of doubt. It makes no sense.

 

[Flavia]

Clearly Rosell dreamed of Neymar as his statement siging but at the same time he was wanted by every Barca manager and virtually every big club in the world.

The only reason to mentio Tito is to show the manager wanted him and the over all reason he was wanted at club was for footballing reasons.

That is where Tito involvement begins and ends. He wanted Neymar just like almost every manager in world.

What do people think they are trying to pin on Tito?

Bartomeu can face jail time. It's obvious he'll do anything to avoid that. Bartomeu has already said he didn't read the contract, that he just signed it. And now all that happened because Tito wanted Neymar earlier.

 

[Kohe321]

Both articles are from Marca.

Thanks for posting!

This sentence is interesting, the wording is very important: Bartomeu stated it was Tito Vilanova's decision to sign Neymar a year ahead of schedule, which pushed up the cost of the deal and led to tax fraud and fraudulent administration charges being brought against the club.

The word and being used in this sentence instead of the word that, which would be infinitely much more appropriate, is where the sting sits. If Bartomeu worded himself in any way that make it seem like Tito is also a part of this scandal, or has any blame in it whatsoever, he really is tasteless beyond belief.

Also, if he aknowledges the fact that, obviously, a coach wanting a player does not have anything to do with how that player is signed... Then why bring it up at all? How is it even relevant to the story that Tito wanted Neymar? The DECIDING factor was that Rosell wanted Neymar, and jumped through many different hoops getting him.

 

[JamDav1982]

JavDav, it is straight up beyond bizarre how you continue to give these people the benefit of the doubt. Isn't it enough they are constantly and repetitively mired in turmoil and scandals? One bad turn right after the other? Surely by now these people have exhausted all your reasonable doubt, no?

Time and time again they reward your patience and faith with horse urine on your face, yet you continue to be willing to afford them the benefit of doubt. It makes no sense.

Not at all. If they get found guilty of tax fraud then they deserve everything they get and I don't care if Barto gets re elected or not.

But I dont think saying Tito asked for Neymar a year early is trying to push blame on Tito as the issue is not paying too much for him a year early the issue is how they went about paying.for him.

Just about the only time Tito has been mentioned is when asked why they moved for him a year early. With the footballibg decision being given.

 

[Flavia]

Thanks for posting!

This sentence is interesting, the wording is very important: Bartomeu stated it was Tito Vilanova's decision to sign Neymar a year ahead of schedule, which pushed up the cost of the deal and led to tax fraud and fraudulent administration charges being brought against the club.

The word and being used in this sentence instead of the word that, which would be infinitely much more appropriate, is where the sting sits. If Bartomeu worded himself in any way that make it seem like Tito is also a part of this scandal, or has any blame in it whatsoever, he really is tasteless beyond belief.

Also, if he aknowledges the fact that, obviously, a coach wanting a player does not have anything to do with how that player is signed... Then why bring it up at all? How is it even relevant to the story that Tito wanted Neymar? The DECIDING factor was that Rosell wanted Neymar, and jumped through many different hoops getting him.

Bartomeu's implication in this is because his signature is in the contracts. He has already said he just signed them and never read them, that rosell was the responsible for making them. Now, Tito wanting Neymar early was to add to why he signed those contracts. The pressure of Florentino, Tito and rosell on him, poor Barto.

 

[JamDav1982]

Bartomeu can face jail time. It's obvious he'll do anything to avoid that. Bartomeu has already said he didn't read the contract, that he just signed it. And now all that happened because Tito wanted Neymar earlier.

All he is saying is why they wanted Neymar early though.

What happens from their has nothing to do with Tito and everyone knows that.

 

[MessiDinho10]

Bartomeu chewed out by media all over the world. This is good fun.

 

[pacp_96]

@Kohe. I agree. It is the wording that is the most unusual thing. He also mentioned Tito three times which, from the outside at least, makes it seem like he is trying to drag Tito into it. It almost looks as if he is trying to blame Tito and Rosell whilst trying to distance himself from it. If that is what he is doing it is disgusting and shameful just to try to save his own neck.

 

[Flavia]

Not at all. If they get found guilty of tax fraud then they deserve everything they get and I don't care if Barto gets re elected or not.

But I dont think saying Tito asked for Neymar a year early is trying to push blame on Tito as the issue is not paying too much for him a year early the issue is how they went about paying.for him.

Just about the only time Tito has been mentioned is when asked why they moved for him a year early. With the footballibg decision being given.

JamDav... they paid so much to him BECAUSE he was brought a year earlier. There was a penalty for it, have you forgotten it already? Or a bonus of 40m to ney sr, as some call it. So you see, Tito's fault.

 

[Sumlit]

Not at all. If they get found guilty of tax fraud then they deserve everything they get and I don't care if Barto gets re elected or not.

But I dont think saying Tito asked for Neymar a year early is trying to push blame on Tito as the issue is not paying too much for him a year early the issue is how they went about paying.for him.

Just about the only time Tito has been mentioned is when asked why they moved for him a year early. With the footballibg decision being given.

This is a criminal proceeding for tax fraud. That Tito wanted reinforcements to the frontline and even if we assume for the sake of argument he wanted Neymar specifically, has absolutely ZERO bearing in this criminal proceeding for fraud, none whatsoever. Wanting a player and committing money fraud are nowhere near in the same ballpark. Nevermind that Tito is not alive to deny or verify these statements.

There is no reason to bring Tito into this. This is at best a lack of awareness, tact and respect by Bartomeu, at worst and most despicable, an attempt to deflect blame.

In any case, neither Rosell nor Bartomeu really deserve the benefit of the doubt at this point.

 

[JamDav1982]

JamDav... they paid so much to him BECAUSE he was brought a year earlier. There was a penalty for it, have you forgotten it already? Or a bonus of 40m to ney sr, as some call it. So you see, Tito's fault.

I understand they paid more for him as a year early but the issue is not how much was paid it is how it was paid.

The judge will want every reason for bringing Neymar in and they includes the footballing reasons. Which if Tito did ask for him then it is relevant.

Should Barto never have mentioned the manager wanting Neymar?