Josep Maria Bartomeu has officially resigned as Barcelona president.Catalan publication SPORT dropped the huge news earlier today after an emergency meeting at the club saw the 57-year-old finally decide to vacate the role.Both Bartomeu and his Board of Directors were facing a vote of no confidence from fans, but the president stated on Monday that he would not be resigning.However, Bartomeu clearly wanted to leave on his own terms rather than face the wrath of supporters and the end of his six-year reign of terror in Catalonia was officially announced by the club this evening."I am communicating my resignation from my position of president, along with my entire board of directors," Bartomeu said at a press conference.
"This is a thought out and relaxed decision, agreed with all my fellow directors."
Barcelona fans will understandably be jubilant at the news of Bartomeu's resignation after his clash with talisman Lionel Messi this summer
The Argentine infamously called out the former president for his catastrophic handling of club matters and the 33-year-old even threatened to quit.
On Monday, Bartomeu spoke about the Messi incident and even seemed optimistic about his future at Barcelona.
"Our priority was keeping Messi as part of our new project so I decided against starting a discussion," he told Goal.
"I had been accused of forcing his departure in order to balance our books. Well, no, we put the interests of the club first and didn't want to reinforce a direct rival. We made that decision knowing that we would be criticised for it.
"I understand the positions of everyone, empathising is important. In the case of Leo, it is good to get angry because it is not good to accept defeat and we have all gotten angry.
"The project is very interesting with young people and veterans, like Messi. And I think that, with him, we are going to win a title this season."
How things change in football, eh?
Messi and the Barcelona squad are currently in Turin ahead of their Champions League clash with Juventus and you can bet there will be some happy faces in their hotel tonight.