I was threatened in jail, given condoms and Vaseline and couldn’t stop crying, says traumatised ex-Barcelona president

TRAUMATISED former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has detailed his 645-day prison hell - for a crime he was later acquitted of.

The 58-year-old revealed he was threatened, given condoms and Vaseline and said that he could not stop crying throughout the ordeal.

Spanish businessman Rosell was jailed without bail in 2017 after allegations of money laundering with regard to buying television rights for past matches of the Brazil national team.

But in April 2019, after 13 rejections to a provisional release, the Spanish courts fully acquitted Rosell.

Now, during an interview with TV program Viajando con Chester to Risto Mejide, which was translated by , he has revealed all about his traumatic experience.

Rosell said: “They (the inmates) threatened me a couple of times, but a couple of guys I had become friendly with immediately came to my defence.

“They were going to beat me up. One for being president of Barcelona and another for being Catalan.

“It happened to me once in Madrid and once in Barcelona, but both times they protected me without my asking for it.”

He continued: “Prison is grey and a bit stale, but at the same time you discover a lot of humanity, it is a constant contrast of emotions, colours, sadness, even laughter.

“I have always tried to be very cerebral, I don't remember having cried in my whole life and there I cried several times and I cried a lot, then I felt better.”

Rosell then discussed sexual encounters that take place behind bars.

He said: “When you go to prison, you say that they give you a packet of condoms and Vaseline. You ask yourself... What for? You find out what for.

“Yes. There is a lot of homosexual relationships in prison, but even among people who are not homosexual.”

On the charges he was accused of, Rosell said: “I have had six cases so far, five of which the Prosecutor's Office has accused me.

“Of the six that have asked me for prison sentences, I have been acquitted in five of them.

“I only have one more pending, which the prosecution is accusing me of trafficking in human organs.”

He was Barcelona president from 2010 to 2014, but was forced to resign from his position after a Spanish court decided to look into the signing of Neymar from Santos 12 months earlier.

Rosell was elected following the hugely-successful Joan Laporta era.

Laporta had overseen the club’s transformation from Champions League qualification hopefuls to Europe’s best team.

He sanctioned a deal to bring in Ronaldinho and promoted Pep Guardiola from youth team coach to first team manager in 2009.

Rosell carried on Laporta’s success on the pitch with a La Liga and Champions League double in his first season.