Barcelona have sacked club director Pere Gratacos over comments he made about Lionel Messi as the La Liga club proceed with tense negotiations over a new contract with the Argentine.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner's current deal at the Camp Nou expires in 2018 but the club are determined to get him to renew before the end of the season, after already securing extensions for key players such as Neymar and Luis Suarez.
However, theIndependentreport thatBarcelona did not take kindly to comments Gratacos made to reporters, saying:"Leo is one of the most important people in the team, but it's not just about him."
Barcelona have sacked director Pere Gratacos after ˜controversial' Messi comments - https://t.co/IVtCn9CHaH pic.twitter.com/ucYQJO3xqZ
"He would not be as good without [Andres] Iniesta, Neymar and company, but Messi is the best."
Barcelona decided to act swiftly and ruthlessly, dismissing Gratacos as executives aim for a major breakthrough in talks between the club and Messi's representatives.
"FC Barcelona have dismissed Pere Gratacos as head of institutional sporting relations with the Royal Spanish Football Federation for having publicly expressed a personal opinion that does not match that of the club after the draw for the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey held today in Madrid.
"The decision has been taken by Albert Soler, director of professional sports, who will assume these functions directly from now on."
Man City, Man Utd and Chelsea keeping tabs on Lionel Messi contract situation, says @GuillemBalague https://t.co/l3j0BQ6w7G pic.twitter.com/8LnNY4fNbK
These developments come after CEO Oscar Grau said new spending caps imposed by La Liga will put considerable pressure on Barca, with Messi already earning a reported £19m a year after tax.
"Barcelona has to analyse this situation with a cold head and common sense," Grau said on Wednesday at the Forum Europa.
"Barca can't exceed 70 per cent of its budget on wages and therefore we have to make the numbers add up."
Grau added that, ultimately, common sense would have to prevail:"The club wants the best player in the world to stay at Barca. I would like to ease the concerns of club members and supporters but we have to use common sense."