Barcelona Presidential Candidate Wants To Rename Camp Nou In Honour Of Lionel Messi

Barcelona's Camp Nou could be renamed the 'Camp Nou Lionel Messi' if presidential candidate Emili Rousaud wins the election to replace Josep Maria Bartomeu in January.

Bartomeu was due to leave at the end of this season, with elections due to take place in March, however with a groundswell of opinion against him, and a vote of no confidence on the way, the president decided to resign.

That means that a new man is set to be elected in January and Rousaud, who used to be vice president under Bartomeu, wants to rename the stadium.

Speaking on Thursday he told of plans to hold a referendum in order to change the name of the Camp Nou in order to pay tribute to the club's all time top scorer, Messi.

"Regardless of the fact that [Messi's] contract expires at the end of this season," Rousaud said, "Because he is the present and at the same time living history of world football and of Barca, I intend to propose to our members via a referendum for the stadium to be renamed the 'Camp Nou Leo Messi."

The Nou Camp could soon be named after the man who's scored most goals inside. Image: PA Images

The candidate has also claimed that he wants to bring back Neymar if he gets voted in, saying, "We are working on bringing two top players.

"Once he withdraws the lawsuits against Baca, we will work on bringing back Neymar."

Rousaud could be planning his presidential race strategy on keeping Messi. The 33-year-old tried to leave the La Liga side in the summer but was forced to stay put when the side wouldn't let him leave for free

The club's all time top scorer has been very vocal about wanting the club to re-sign Neymar from PSG, and was reportedly annoyed the club didn't try hard enough on the Brazilian's move in 2019 when they signed Antoine Griezmann.

Could the return of Neymar keep Messi at the club? Image: PA Images

Messi's contract expires at the end of the season and he is still expected to leave, and this time can do for free, although that could still change.

One of the other issues for Messi was how Bartomeu was running the club and his departure might lead the way for the captain to stay put beyond the summer.

The election takes place on January 24th, leaving whoever wins just a week until the end of the January transfer window.

Will it be enough to keep Messi at the club?

Topics: Football News, Nou Camp, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Spain, Spanish football, La Liga

Ryan Sidle

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