Joan Laporta Talks Lionel Messi, Josep Maria Bartomeu and Barcelona's Qatar Deal

Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta has criticised incumbent chief Josep Maria Bartomeu for his handling of Lionel Messi and the club's sponsorship deal with Qatar Airways. 

He told Catalunya Radio (h/t Marca): "The club has not lived up to Messi's standard. He is the best player in history, the best in the world."

After the Argentinian's tax fraud case ended in a 21-month suspended prison sentence for the player and his father, Bartomeu tweeted his support of Messi:

The club also created a hashtag in a similar show of solidarity:

Spanish football expert Sergi Dominguez believes Bartomeu has not done enough to show his support for the 29-year-old in the past, while football journalist Rafael Hernandez was one of many to criticise the club's social media campaign:

On Bartomeu's deal with Qatar Airways, Laporta said: "He lied, he said in his campaign he would sign a deal worth €60 million. I don't understand this, there is always a shadow of suspicion with them."

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

In June, marketing and communication vice-president Manel Arroyo told La Vanguardia (h/t Santi Gimenez of AS, via ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan) the club would receive "€60 to €65 million a year" in their new sponsorship deal.

Per AS (h/t Corrigan), Bartomeu had given the same figure as his target during the club's AGM in October last year. However, Corrigan reported the deal appears to simply be an extension of the same terms agreed previously—€33 million a year.

Corrigan noted the deal is not particularly favourable to the Blaugrana with all things considered:

Despite their struggles off the pitch, the club is enjoying almost unparalleled success on it—in the last two seasons alone they've lifted La Liga twice, the Copa del Rey twice and the UEFA Champions League once.

Such success—and being able to provide the opportunity to play with the likes of Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez—means the club have little trouble attracting players, but there is cause for concern.

Back in December, Pete Jenson of the MailOnline revealed the full extent of their dire financial situation, which won't have been aided by their failure to secure an improved, more lucrative sponsorship deal.

In a transfer market where Juventus star Paul Pogba could cost nine figures—a price Barcelona have admitted ruled them out of the running, per Canale 21 (h/t Adrian Kajumba of the Mirror)—elite clubs need to be able to compete financially.

With that being the case, it seems Laporta's concerns could well be valid.