Topics: La Liga, Barcelona, Josep Maria Bartomeu, Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernández
The team's poor finances, the disappointing start of the season, and the inability to negotiate Messi's contract extension were some of the causes that urged fans to ask for his resignation.

The day Barcelona fans were waiting for has finally arrived. Under-fire exec Josep Maria Bartomeu has handed in his resignation as team president due to the motion to relieve him from his duties.

Bartomeu tried to hang on to the seat by asking the Catalan Generalitat to postpone the vote that was supposed to take place in the next few days due to the current coronavirus crisis, but city execs ruled out that the ballot represented cause for concern, allowing the meeting to be held. Bartomeu knew he would be forced to leave the presidential chair, and decided not to wait for that to happen and turned in his resignation.

Speaking  in a press conference, Bartomeu revealed the reasons behind his decision.

"This is a decision that has been thought through by me and by everyone working for the team's board. The Generalitat did not take under consideration our request to hold the elections in 15 days, which leaves us with no choice but to step down," Bartomeu stated.

Bartomeu went on to reveal why his board chose not to hand in their resignation after the team's UEFA Champions League loss against Bayern München.

"The easiest thing after that game was to step down, but we had to do what was best for the team amid an unprecedented global crisis. We couldn't leave the club in the hands of an interim board," Bartomeu added.

Bartomeu, who acted as Blaugrana president since 2014, defended his term as boss and some of the radical decisions made by the club, including the current negotiations to see the players taking a wage cut.

"The club is now as solid and economically viable as possible. We've developed new business areas for the club around the world. I hope that the wage adequations can be implemented in the next few days, because if that does not happen, the club's immediate future could be in jeopardy. Let's hope for a swift agreement between all parties involved," Bartomeu added.

The former president stepped down from the podium by stating his loyalty to the club.

"It's been an honor to serve this club. Visca el Barça," Bartomeu concluded.

Here's how the club's Twitter feed disclosed Bartomeu's resignation.