It's not a secret to anybody that Josep Maria Bartomeu isn't exactly a fan favorite among FC Barcelona supporters. The former president has been perhaps the most controversial and toxic figure in club history, even leading to Lionel Messi's desire to leave the team.
Under Bartomeu, Barcelona have struggled with its finances, signed subpar players at astronomically high places, and have had a tough time keeping up with the rest of the European giants, also constantly firing their coaches.
The situation became nearly unsustainable several months ago when Lionel Messi announced his desire to leave the club after some questionable personnel decisions, up to the point where he had to step down.
Now, police have raided the team's offices and arrested six board members, including the controversial president. Needless to say, the fans had a lot to say on the internet regarding his incarceration.
Funniest Memes And Reactions From Bartomeu's Arrest
"According to reports in the Spanish media, the operation is linked to last year's investigation into the 'BarçaGate' scandal, which saw the club deny hiring a company to criticize current and former players on social media to improve the image of the then-president Bartomeu," said The Local.
Bartomeu's successor is set to be elected on Sunday, with Joan Laporta, Toni Freixa and Victor Font as the candidates. Obviously, these aren't exactly soothing times for the Catalan club.
As for the team's current form, Ronald Koeman has finally established an identity and they've been playing great over the past couple of weekends in La Liga. Sadly, they're not likely to come back from a 0-4 home loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League.
Also, Lionel Messi is still pretty much likely to leave the club at the end of the season, with the aforementioned PSG and Manchester City leading the race to acquire his services. All because of Bartomeu.
