Josep Maria Bartomeu Adamant the Outcome of Lionel Messi Saga Was a Success

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has said he simply couldn't allow Lionel Messi to leave the club this summer.

The Argentine appeared destined to depart Catalonia ahead of the 2020/21 campaign after expressing his desire to leave to the club's board.

Messi thought that he'd be able to activate a clause to unilaterally end his contract at Barcelona immediately, but that simply wasn't the case and any potential suitors would've likely been forced to pay his astronomical £624m release clause.

Lionel Messi came closer than ever to leaving Barcelona / Alex Caparros/Getty Images

Thus, with the ordeal swiftly evolving into a complex one involving legalities, Messi confirmed that he'll stay at the club and see out the remainder of his contract - which expires at the end of next season.

Much of the great Argentine's frustration has been vented towards the running of the club by seemingly incompetent Bartomeu, who in turn enters his final season as club president.

Nevertheless, Bartomeu suggested congratulations were in order following the star's decision to stay put and is hopeful the Argentine will prove the difference during Ronald Koeman's debut season at the helm.

“I won’t get into any conflict with him. He’s our captain and the leader of our team,” Bartomeu told Catalan television network TV3 (via Goal).

Bartomeu's incompetence was the main source of Messi's frustration / Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

“I couldn’t let him leave the club, he is the best player of all time and the team needs him. Having Messi is a guarantee of success.

“We have seen him do his talking on the pitch and we have moved on from the saga. We should congratulate ourselves for getting Messi to stay with us and for how he has behaved in the last few days. The best player in the world should stay at our home," he added.

The president faces a vote of no confidence following a petition launched by fans which gained over 20,000 signatures.

An official board decision on Bartomeu's immediate future is expected within the next two weeks but the president nonetheless remains focused on the job at hand.

Ronald Koeman is set to oversee his first campaign as Barcelona boss / Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

"The board and I will keep working to ensure we have the most competitive team possible," the 57-year-old said.

"We will speak again after validating the votes but right now no-one wants to quit. The club won’t stop and we will keep working, we have lots of issues to sort out."