Xavi Hernández revealed that Lionel Messi was close to returning to FC Barcelona in 2023 but claimed club president Joan Laporta ultimately blocked the move.
In an interview with La Vanguardia, the former Barcelona manager said the club had already made significant progress toward bringing Messi back after the Argentine star won the 2022 World Cup. According to Xavi, talks with Messi began in January 2023 and continued for several months.
“Leo was signed, and the president pulled it back,” Xavi said, adding that Messi had expressed excitement about the possibility of returning to the club where he became a global star.
Xavi claimed Barcelona had even received approval from LaLiga regarding the financial framework of the deal while negotiations were underway with Messi’s father and agent, Jorge Messi. However, he said the decision to abandon the agreement ultimately came from Laporta and his inner circle.
Laporta was responsible for Messi’s departure
My interest is to tell the truth,” Xavi said. “Leo didn’t return to Barça because the president didn’t want it, not because of LaLiga or because Jorge Messi asked for more money.
Messi eventually joined Inter Miami CF instead of returning to Barcelona.
Beyond the Messi situation, Xavi also reflected on his time coaching Barcelona and defended the foundation he believes his staff helped build before his departure.
He pointed to the emergence of young talents such as Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsí and Fermín López as one of the legacies he is most proud of, along with the two titles the team won during his tenure.
“We laid very good foundations for the project to continue,” Xavi said.
Xavi’s departure was also surrounded by controversy
The former midfielder also criticized the circumstances surrounding his departure, suggesting Laporta did not fully explain the reasons behind his dismissal and alleging that club figure Alejandro Echevarría held significant influence within the organization.
Xavi further rejected claims that Barcelona’s physical preparation under his staff had been inadequate, saying statistical data showed his LaLiga-winning squad covered more distance than any Barcelona team since 2003.
Despite the controversy, Xavi said his goal in speaking publicly was simply to clarify what happened behind the scenes.
The club needs change from top to bottom – in structure and professionalism.
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