Former Xavi Hernández has alleged that Joan Laporta prevented club icon Lionel Messi from rejoining FC Barcelona in 2023 due to concerns about a possible power struggle within the club.
Messi, who has won the Ballon d’Or eight times, departed Barcelona in 2021 to sign for Paris Saint-Germain, before later joining Inter Miami CF two years afterwards.
“Leo was signed, in January 2023 after winning the World Cup, we got in touch and he told me he wanted to come back,” Xavi told Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia late on Sunday.
“We had the green light from La Liga (financially), but it was the president who threw it away…
“Laporta told me, word for word, that if Leo came back he was going to wage war against him and that he couldn’t allow that. And then suddenly Leo stopped answering my calls because he’d been told that it couldn’t be done.”
Xavi stated that all arrangements for Messi’s return had already been put in place. He insisted there was “no doubt” about the move from a football perspective and said the club had envisioned “we were going to do a last dance, like (former NBA star Michael) Jordan’s”.
Laporta, who stepped down as Barcelona president recently to contest re-election this week, responded on Monday by implying that Xavi’s remarks were driven by disappointment. He said Messi’s father and agent, Jorge Messi, had informed him that the Argentine forward had decided against returning.
“With Xavi I saw we were going to lose and with (current coach Hansi Flick) that we will win,” Laporta said during a presidential debate on Monday.
“I understand that (Xavi) is hurt — with the same players Flick wins.”
Laporta also explained that he had sent a contract proposal to Jorge Messi, who later visited his residence and said that “here there would be too much pressure” if the forward returned.
Messi remains Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer with 672 goals and won a club-record 34 trophies during his time at Camp Nou.
Laporta further revealed that Barcelona rejected a €250 million (£288 million) bid from Paris Saint-Germain for teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, which was reportedly submitted in the summer of 2024.