Xavi Startled as Laporta Ends Hopes of Messi’s Barcelona Return

Former Barcelona midfielder and coach Xavi Hernández sparked controversy by claiming that the club president, Joan Laporta, cut off Lionel Messi’s return to the club.

In an explosive interview with La Vanguardia, Xavi accused Barça president Laporta of lying several times. He said everything was ready for Messi’s return in 2023. According to Xavi, the club had already prepared for Messi to rejoin Barcelona from Paris Saint-Germain.

In 2021, when Lionel Messi left his boyhood club for PSG, Culers fans had a long-standing belief that the current Inter Miami forward would return to the club. La Liga, the governing body of the first division Spanish league, was branded the culprit by the media at that time for its strict restrictions, which became a hurdle to the league’s growth.

The post covid financial issues played a major role, breaking the backbone of many prestigious clubs. The Spanish club was one of them. But the fans believed the club would start the process of bringing back the former right winger once it fixed the issues. Later, the media reported that it was Jorge Messi (Messi’s father) who was demanding a huge salary hike for his son. Now Xavi breaks the silence as he cited,

The president is lying about what happened with Messi. Leo was signed. In January of 2023, after he had won the World Cup, I spoke to him and he told me he was excited to learn. The president negotiated the contract with Leo’s dad [Jorge] and we had the green light from LaLiga financially, but it’s the president who pulled out.

According to Xavi, as reported by ESPN, Laporta would not bother if someone intervet his regime at the club, he stated,

He told me that if Messi came back, he would make a war [against Laporta]. My interest is in telling the truth. Leo didn’t come because the president didn’t want him.

Laporta Almost Ruined Messi’s Bond with Xavi

Xavi shared his thoughts about the failed story of Messi’s homecoming, lamenting that the situation damaged relation with his old teammate.  But as long as he left the club in the summer of 2024, he reconstructed the bonding.

He thought I was part of that Conspiracy that wanted to kick him out, but it was Laporta who did not want him. It affected my relationship with Leo a lot. Now the relationship is good again.

During the interview, another sensational claim emerged that the president, Alejandro Echevarria, and the Barca board launched a paid media campaign against the former midfielder. He alleged them by saying they spread a ton missinformation and gossip around him. Players were told that their coach has plans of selling them.

“I know Laporta, Alejandro Echevarría, and the Barça board launched a media campaign against me.”he added, “and worse Alejandro spoke with players like Sergi Roberto, Ronald Araujo, Pedri, and Raphinha telling them I wanted to sell them. This hurt me a lot, it was not true”

Laporta countring Xavi’s Claims

However Laporta responded on Monday, saying he was “surprised and hurt” by Xavi’s remarks. He insisted that it was Messi’s camp that backed out of a potential return in 2023. He also hinted that the club’s decision to dismiss him in 2024 may have influenced Xavi’s comments.

“When I see what Xavi has said, I think about [current Barça coach] Hansi Flick,” Laporta told RAC1. “Being Barça president is a tough job and you have to make difficult decisions. I did what I had to do.

“With Xavi, I saw that we were going to lose and that with Flick we were going to win. I understand that he’s hurting. With the same players, Flick is winning.”

Xavi managed Barcelona for three years, from 2021 to 2024. Although this period came during one of the darkest phases in the club’s history, he still led the team to the La Liga title in 2022–23. Moreover, he guided Barcelona to victory in the Spanish Super Cup, marking one of the few bright moments of his tenure.