Xavi Claims Laporta Blocked Messi’s Barcelona Return

Former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández has made a startling revelation, alleging that club president Joan Laporta deliberately blocked Lionel Messi’s return to the Catalan giants in 2023. Despite approval from La Liga, Xavi claims that Laporta personally nullified the agreement, preventing the football legend from rejoining the club.

In an interview with La Vanguardia, just a week before Barcelona’s presidential elections, Xavi, who was dismissed from his coaching role in May 2024, detailed the near-finalised deal for Messi’s return at the start of 2023. Following Argentina’s victory in the Qatar World Cup, Messi was reportedly eager to return to Catalonia, a sentiment echoed by his father, Jorge Messi, who described it as a dream ending comparable to Michael Jordan’s “Last Dance.”

Xavi explained the sequence of events in depth. “Messi had signed,” he said. “In January 2023, after the World Cup, we initiated contact. He told me he was excited to return, and I felt it. We discussed things until March. I told him, ‘Okay, once you give the green light, I will inform the president.’”

La Liga had also given the green light for Messi’s return. However, Xavi alleges that Laporta intervened directly, engaging in discussions with Messi’s father and ultimately terminating the agreement. Xavi quotes Laporta as saying: “If Leo returns, he will declare war against me, and I cannot allow that.”

This interference reportedly strained Messi’s relationship with Xavi. “Suddenly, Leo stopped taking my calls because he had been told it could not happen. I spoke to Jorge Messi and said, ‘This cannot be the case,’ and he told me to talk to the president. We had been negotiating for five months; Messi’s football ability was never in question.”

Over time, Xavi and Messi reconciled, though he admitted the episode left its mark. “It took some time for Messi to speak to me again because he thought I was part of the plan. It affected my relationship with him, but now all is well. He understands, yet there was a period when communication was impossible. It’s unfortunate, and the responsibility lies with those in power.”

When asked if Messi would ever return to Barcelona, Xavi was definitive: “Messi will never return, simply because Laporta does not want him back. It is not due to La Liga regulations, Messi’s financial demands, or any other reason. Laporta is the one telling his camp that the club cannot afford him.”

Barcelona’s upcoming presidential election sees Laporta seeking a third term, with Victor Font and Marc Serra among his challengers. The saga sheds light on the complex dynamics between club leadership and player loyalty, illustrating how internal politics can influence even the most high-profile football careers.

Messi Return Attempt – Key Details

This revelation reignites debate over Barcelona’s internal decision-making and the role of club politics in shaping the careers of its marquee players. Messi’s potential return remains a contentious topic among fans and analysts alike.