Josep Maria Bartomeu has "hit back" at comments from Joan Laporta as the two former Barcelona presidents "settle into what looks a two-horse race in the club's upcoming presidential election," according to Dermot Corrigan of ESPN. Laporta launched his campaign on Monday by saying that Bartomeu's outgoing regime "had success on the field with the team inherited from the previous regime, but had sullied its good name" by agreeing to sponsorship deals with Qatar and "getting into legal trouble" over the signing of Neymar in '13. Laporta said that he "had such a close relationship with the current side" that he and Lionel Messi had a "telepathic" relationship. Replying on Catalan radio station RAC1, Bartomeu first said that he had "no special psychological powers, but had worked with coach Luis Enrique to ensure Messi played well." Bartomeu: "We are closing a winning cycle and opening another, but in silence." Laporta said that the upcoming poll offered a "clear moral choice" to Barcelona socios (members), saying, "Bartomeu and Rosell are Qatar and we are UNICEF." Bartomeu countered by saying that it was Barça's members who "chose their shirt sponsor," and would do so again in the autumn from the options available. Bartomeu said, "All the time, there are more companies interested. The executives are still looking, until October we will try and find the best. The board will not decide which shirt sponsor, that will be the AGM of socios" (ESPN, 6/23).
