Barcelona have denied hiring a social media firm to criticise Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique online, following claims to the contrary by SER Catalunya radio station.
The local radio station said the club were looking to protect the reputation of president Josep Maria Bartomeu by hiring a social media content creator to disparage players that disagree with him.
In response to the accusation, a club statement said: "The club demands an immediate rectification of the information published and reserves the right to exercise legal action against those who continue to implicate the club in such practices."
SER alleges that the club used a firm called I3 Ventures, which manage a number of social media accounts.
Barcelona said that they have worked with the firm, but that the club "has no relationship with the accounts mentioned and, if any relationship were to come to light, the club would immediately end their contractual agreement and bring about any necessary legal action to defend their interests".
The club statement added: "As such, FC Barcelona confirm it has services contracted relating to the monitoring of social media with the aim of analysing both positive and negative messages about the organisation itself."
