Bartomeu-Paulinho: Barça threaten legal action against false information

After various media outlets reported that Paulinho's arrival at Barcelona was linked with the club's presdient's own business interests, Barça responded with a statement on Monday about the "false news". 

If there is no retraction from those making the links between the 40 million euro signing and Bartomeu's own interests, the club say they will take legal action. 

Here is FC Barcelona's statement:

“This morning FC Barcelona have requested a retraction to the authors of the article as well as to the media outlet that published the story in which the president of the club, Josep Maria Bartomeu, is accused of having signed the player Paulinho Bezerra as part of a deal which favoured the interests of his company.

“Given the false nature of this news story and the fact that it implies an illegal activity has taken place, if a retraction is not forthcoming both the club and the president as an individual will take the corresponding legal steps. These steps will include a specific request for damages incurred with regards to the image of the club.

“FC Barcelona will not tolerate false information being published which may damage the club or those who form part of said club and it calls for professional responsibility from those who have made use of the story without corroborating the information published.”

🎥 Declaracions del portaveu del FC Barcelona Josep Vives sobre el comunicat de Paulinho pic.twitter.com/3L11WTHXYZ

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_cat) 16 de agosto de 2017