Bartomeu: In the presidential box there was some disagreement over the refereeing LaLiga - Barcelona vs Real Madrid Board members didn't see eye to eye in Clasico

Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu admitted that there was an argument in the presidential box between directors of both clubs over the refereeing of the Clasico.

In a typically heated clash between the two arch-rivals the referee Hernandez Hernandez was criticised for his decisions in the 2-2 draw.

"We don't always agree on what the referee does, obviously there are differences over some goals or offsides," said Bartomeu.

"We defend our teams with presidential courtesy. In the (presidential) box there were some disagreements over the refereeing decisions.

"For a long time we have said that we will not talk about referees, it is very difficult to do their job and it all happens very quickly," he said.

"We have said for a long time that there should be technology in football to help them and we are glad to see that VAR will be introduced. If good use is made of it then it will all be more just."

Despite winning the double, Lionel Messi doesn't appear entirely happy with the memory of the Champions League elimination still fresh but Bartomeu is convinced there is time for talisman Lionel Messi to win more European crowns.

Despite his place among the world's greatest players, Messi has now won the Champions League only once in seven years while Real Madrid have dominated the competition.

"I will explain to my grandchildren that the best player ever played for us and I tell him that he can carry on for a lot longer and can win a number of Champions Leagues still," explained Bartomeu in a radio interview.

Having won at home they were knocked out of this year's competiton after a 4-1 defeat away to Roma.

"It was a sad return and we got back very late to Barcelona," continued Bartomeu.

"What is important is not how the return leg went but how we reacted. What is important is how we responded, how we played the cup final and how we were in the league afterwards.

"It was simply a game were the team was not at their usual level. If something is done badly then it is discussed inside the club, talked about and then the decisions are made inside the club.

"He (Ernesto Valverde) will be the coach next season, there were no doubts about him at the end of the game in Roma, I never thought about sacking him."

A head of the Clasico there was plenty of discussion over Madrid's decision not to give a traditional guard of honour to Barcelona for winning the league.

"This talk of a guard of honour, which has been talked about so much, is a question of respect between players, football professionals," explained Bartomeu.

"It is down to the players that know each other, I am sure that Barcelona would have given them the guard of honour if Madrid had won the league. After the Club World Cup we didn't do it because we were not involved in the competition."

Barcelona have been linked strongly with Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann, with Luis Suarez even suggesting in an interview that it was all done and dusted but Bartomeu was giving nothing away.

"We do not talk about players from other teams," he went on.

"We are analysing the season and we will see what will be done with players coming in and leaving. I met him once in the Balearic islands, but I have not spoken to him this year, I did chat to his agent in October and I have spoken to Cerezo (Atletico's president) but not about this."