Barca have form with resignations

Sandro Rosell’s resignation as Barcelona president on Thursday came as a huge initial surprise, but also fit with a longstanding tradition at the Catalan club.

Rosell confirmed that last summer’s controversial signing of Brazilian attacker Neymar was the subject of a formal court investigation, with charges likely to be brought for ‘diversion’ of some of the €80m plus Barca spent to sign the player.

Nothing had yet been proven against any individual, but Rosell felt it was time to go. He told an emotional farewell press briefing he had ‘suffered difficult moments’ and that he and his family had received ‘threats’, while saying his resignation would hopefully protect the club from further attacks. However the Neymar investigation will continue, and if anything his decision to step away brings more focus on the transfer. Successor Josep-Maria Bartomeu is also caught up in the court proceedings, which will continue for months at least.