Neymar controversy won't be an issue in the re-elections, said Bartomeu

FC Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu

Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu has ruled out the chances of the ongoing controversy surrounding the signing of Neymar acting as a hurdle in his hopes of winning the re-election.

Bartomeu, who has repeatedly marked himself to be innocent against of any illegal issues said that he has called in for the general elections with the hope of strengthening his position at Football Club Barcelona.

Earlier in 2014, Sandro Rosell, former FC Barcelona president resigned in order to clear his name from the tax evasion allegations following the legal investigation that was launched into Brazil’s international transfer from Santos after it emerged that the originally reported fee of €58.1m was closer to €86m.

Speaking to Esport3, Bartomeu said, "The Neymar case will not penalise me in the next election."

"We have not done anything wrong. I am so clear that I have not done anything wrong that I decided to stand for election,” he added. ”We are calm because the club has done right. We did all paperwork correctly. The important thing is that Neymar is playing with us. That was the No.1 goal.”

Meanwhile, Bartomeu insists he didn’t regret his decision to fire Andoni Zubizarreta as the sporting director midway through the season.

"Decisions are made and you have to take the consequences," he added. "Zubizarreta did a great job. But I have my reasons. I do not regret any of the decisions I made in January."