Barcelona sack Sergi Guardiola just hours after signing him over offensive tweets

Barcelona have terminated the contract of Spanish midfielder Sergi Guardiola just hours after he signed for the club following the discovery of offensive tweets.

The Spanish giants confirmed the recruitment of the 24-year-old to its B team on Monday, but then released a short statement in which they said they had sacked him for messages found on his official Twitter from 2013 that were offensive towards the club and Catalonia.

"FC Barcelona has decided to terminate the contract signed with Sergi Guardiola, after finding that he had published offensive tweets about the club and Catalonia," the statement on the club's official website read.

The player spoke to Spanish radio station Onda Cero in the aftermath of the events to insist he had not written the tweets, but apologised to Barcelona fans for the messages.

"I know I made a mistake. I apologise to Catalonia and Barcelona. I understand the decision, I’d do the same," he said.

"I want to make it clear I didn’t write those tweets. A friend took my phone and did it.

"It’s a misunderstanding. The tweets are from 2013, a joke from a friend, I didn’t even know the tweets existed.

"Barcelona have treated me very well. I understand their decision. Now I’m going home, we’ll see what happens.

"Once you’re a professional, you support the team that plays best, and that’s Barcelona. Joining them was a dream, now it’s broken.

"It was put on my profile, but it wasn't me. I ask for forgiveness a thousand times - I have learnt a difficult lesson."