Benedito: Bartomeu is not telling the truth about Messi's contract renewal

Agustí Benedito, who launched the vote of no confidence against Josep Maria Bartomeu and the Barcelona board, has accused the president of lying about Lionel Messi's contract renewal. 

"Bartomeu's said that the contract is signed and it's just lacking the protocol. That contract, without Leo's signature, is not valid. Even though his father has signed, it needs the player's signature. This doesn't help with getting it signed. It's possible that Bartomeu's presence is the main obstacle [for getting it signed]. I hope that the presdient explains everything truthfully. It's not the first time he's lied." 

Benedito also revealed that the vote of no confidence now has 10,715 signatues of the 16,570 which are required having added 3,437 more in the last week. He says he has until Oct. 2 to get the signatures, but the club still insist the deadline is Sept. 27. 

While confusion continues to follow the deadline, Benedito recognises that it's "difficult" to get the necessary signatures before the club's date but is confident he can get them bu Oct. 2. 

There was also criticism from Benedito for the way the club dealt with the death of former director Jacint Borras. 

"I was lucky enough to share time with him and learn from him, he was an example of Barcelonismo," Benedito said. "For that reason I'm not in agreement with the decisions taken by the board about how to treat his death. There should have been a minute's silence and I lament, as do many people, that he's not had the treatement he deserved. 

"There have been many minute's silence at Camp Nou for people with much less on their CV than Borras. The club have reacted late. There are many socios who share my opinion. It's an error we will not forget."