BARCELONA: Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has resigned amid increasing pressure, but said he had accepted proposals for the club to join a European Super League, BBC reported.

Bartomeu, who became president in 2014, stood down on Tuesday, along with the entire board of directors.  Fans had been trying to remove him since he fell out with star player Messi in the summer after the Argentina forward handed in a transfer request.

Messi failed to force a move and decided to stay, but said he felt deceived by Bartomeu, adding: “There has been no project or anything for a long time”.

Bartomeu was due to step down in March, having served the maximum two terms as president, but was facing a vote of no confidence.

More than 20,000 club members signed a motion to remove him.

Resentment had grown against his leadership over the past year because of worsening finances and Barca’s decline on the pitch and their failure to win a trophy last season.

Barcelona is owned by its supporters, who vote to elect a president to run the club.

In a leaving speech Bartomeu said Barca had begun proceedings to join a Super League to help its financial future.

(With inputs from Agencies)