Xavi has accused Joan Laporta of preventing Lionel Messi from returning to Barcelona in 2023.
The explosive claims come just days before Laporta runs for re-election as club president.
4
Messi left the Spanish giants in 2021 after 21 years with the club to join Paris Saint-Germain.
However, according to then-manager Xavi, he was set for a dramatic comeback less than two years later.
The former Barca coach claims Laporta blocked the move because he feared a power struggle with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
As a result, Messi subsequently moved to MLS club Inter Miami, where he remains three years later.
Speaking to La Vanguardia, Xavi accused Laporta of lying about Messi’s failed return to the Nou Camp.
Xavi claims Laporta blocked Messi’s reunion
The 46-year-old explained: “The president is lying about what happened to Messi. Leo was signed. In January 2023, after he won the World Cup, I spoke to him and he told me he was excited to hear about it.”
“We spoke until March and I told him: ‘As soon as you give me the OK, I will tell the president because it works perfectly at football level.’
“The president negotiated the contract with Leo’s father (Jorge) and we had the financial green light from LaLiga, but it was the president who pulled out.”
“He told me that if Messi came back he would wage a war (against Laporta). My interest is in telling the truth. Leo didn’t come because the president didn’t want him.”
“It is a lie to say that it is because LaLiga (which would not allow it financially) or Jorge Messi asked for more money.”
4
“It was the president and his people who said they couldn’t allow him (Laporta) to have all the power and that Messi would handle it badly.”
Xavi and Messi played 399 games together as teammates for Barcelona.
They also won the Champions League four times and seven LaLiga titles.
After returning to the club as coach himself in 2021, Xavi won another league title in his second season at the helm.
However, his term would end after three years at the end of the 2023/24 season.
However, Xavi’s comments have already been denied by Laporta, suggesting that the Barca legend based his bombshell claims on being sacked as coach.
4
The two-time Barcelona president told RAC1 on Monday: “When I see what Xavi said, I think of Hansi Flick.”
“Being Barca president is a hard job and you have to make difficult decisions. I did what I had to do.”
“With Xavi, I saw that we would lose and that we would win with Flick. I understand that he is feeling bad. With the same players, Flick wins.”
“As for Messi, it was like this: in 2023 I was told that Messi wanted to return and I sent the contract to Jorge Messi, who later came to my house and told me that the pressure would be too much here and that they would rather go to Miami.”
Laporta is seeking re-election as club president on Sunday after returning for a second term in the role in 2021.
4
The 63-year-old resigned in February to stand for re-election under the club’s election rules.
Members will go to the polls this weekend to choose between Laporta and opposing candidate Victor Font.