‘The goat has done it again’ – Lighthearted Messi theory spreads as ex-Barca president Bartomeu preps for night in custody
A conspiracy theory (not intended to be taken seriously) is doing the rounds online this evening, centering on Lionel Messi’s involvement in the arrest of Josep Maria Bartomeu.
Barto arrested
The major news in Spanish football on Monday of course surrounded Bartomeu, and a number of other ex-Barcelona board members.
Almost completely out of the blue, word was forthcoming online that Oscar Grau and Roman Gómez Ponti – both of whom carried out key roles at the Camp Nou during Bartomeu’s reign – had been arrested.
This was followed by a series of videos surfacing, showcasing the Catalan police force making their way into Barca’s offices, accompanied by members of the club’s legal team:
🎥 2 Barça lawyers accompanied by 2 members from the police force (Mossos) re-enter the club’s offices. They had gone out for a moment to search the car of one of the detainees. @victor_nahe #FCB 👥🚔
— Reshad Rahman ✆ (@HagridFCB) March 1, 2021
Then came the bombshell news which the Blaugrana faithful had been waiting for.
Both Bartomeu, who was essentially driven out of the Camp Nou late last year, and right-hand man Jaume Masferrer, joined the aforementioned Grau and Ponti in custody.
The local police force subsequently released a statement, confirming that ‘an investigation into alleged crimes related to property & socio economic order’ had been opened, known to relate to last year’s BarcaGate scandal.
🚨 The Mossos (Police force) have confirmed that “an investigation into alleged crimes related to property & socio economic order” had taken place earlier today – there have been 4 arrests, as official statement confirmed. The investigation continues to remain active. #FCB 🚔🚨
— Reshad Rahman ✆ (@HagridFCB) March 1, 2021
For those who are unaware, BarcaGate surrounded Bartomeu’s alleged hiring of marketing company I3 Ventures, to boost his own image, as well as damage those of a number of high-profile players and former directors at the club.
‘Just Goat things’
The latest word on the situation to have emerged a short time ago, meanwhile, saw it confirmed that the Spanish businessman, and Masferrer, are set to spend the night in police custody:
(🌕) JUST IN: Josep Maria Bartomeu and Masferrer will spend the rest of the night in custody in the police station, they won’t be released. @Alfremartinezz @elnacionalcat #FCB ⛔️🚨
— Reshad Rahman ✆ (@HagridFCB) March 1, 2021
And, as outlined above, if the subsequent social media activity on the part of Barcelona’s fans is anything to go by, then it appears that Bartomeu is, unsurprisingly, not in line for too much sympathy.
This comes amid an altogether lighthearted theory, surrounding Blaugrana star man Lionel Messi.
The Argentine, this past weekend, was spotted signing an autograph for a local policeman.
Some, however, have insinuated that Messi was in fact not simply providing his signature. Instead, the joke has spread that Barca’s star man was providing inside information, in a bid to aid the case against Bartomeu:
This was Messi Signing an Autograph for a policeman on Saturday….
Today they have Arrested Bartomeu.
Are you thinking what I am thinking? 🤔
The GOAT has done it again for the fans 😁 pic.twitter.com/NoohJvn3OJ
— Fat Koeman 🍔🍔 (@ultimate_kombo) March 1, 2021
Here take this autograph but I want this mfcker in jail by tommorow 😂 pic.twitter.com/LggpUXxOXx
— Boss_Frenkie21 (@JimWinchester21) March 1, 2021
Bartomeu Got Arrested
You Know The Art
You Don’t Know The Artist..Reason Why Messi Gave His Autograph To That Police 🌚🌚
Just GOAT Things 😎
— Piyush Singh (@piyush710singh) March 1, 2021
this wasn’t just an autograph
Messi gave him directions to Bartomeu’s house pic.twitter.com/VD2EmiqnH0— mmouzoul (@mmouzoul1) March 1, 2021
Remember the viral video last week where Messi gave an autograph to a police officer? You thought. He wrote down Bartomeu‘s address.
— Fiago (@fiago7) March 1, 2021
