Barcelona vice-president Emili Rousaud has hit out at president Josep Maria Bartomeu after being pushed to resign.

Bartomeu called Rousaud to request his resignation from the club's board of directors, which was a major shock as many expected Rousaud to be the continuity candidate at the next elections.

He told Marca: "I feel betrayed because the reasons given by the president are not the real ones. There is not much weight and there is no proof of what he claims. I know that he did not like anything about that social networks issue, where bills were cut up to overcome and evade the club's internal controls.

"He was belligerent and demanded an external audit. I know the president did not like that, but I have been very loyal to the club. Frankly, to speak honestly, I do feel betrayed by the president."

Rousand also said, "He caught me by surprise. I told him that I was particularly sorry that he called me to say something like that after five years. And, above all, at the moment we are in confinement. I don't feel it's neither the [appropriate] manner nor the moment. I told him to let me reflect on it. To say the truth, nothing would have happened today if last night, through the club or I don't know how, the news leaked and the phone was on fire. For me that was a private conversation with the president. I didn't expect that to leak."