One week before the presidential election at FC Barcelona, Xavi has settled his scores with Joan Laporta. The former Catalan coach claims the club president personally blocked Lionel Messi’s return in 2023.
Lionel Messi’s comeback to Barça was already a done deal… according to Xavi. In an interview with La Vanguardia, the then–FC Barcelona coach revisited the failed attempt to bring the Argentine star back to the club after the 2022 World Cup.
Xavi Claims Messi Had Already Agreed to Return
According to the former Barcelona manager (2021–2024), Messi was ready to come back and discussions were already well underway. “Leo had agreed. We got back in touch, and he told me he was eager to return,” the Spanish coach explained.
Xavi says the talks continued for several weeks before the project was abruptly stopped. “We discussed it until March (2023). (…) But Laporta ruined everything. He told me that if Leo returned, there would be a wage war and that he couldn’t afford it,” he said, adding that Messi stopped responding to him after learning the deal had become impossible.
Just days before the club’s presidential election, Xavi is openly backing candidate Victor Font against Joan Laporta. He insists the decision came solely from Barcelona’s leadership: “If Leo didn’t return to Barça, it’s because the president didn’t want it. (…) I dreamed of Leo’s return, and even now I’m convinced he would help the team score goals. Leo would triumph again at Camp Nou — that was his wish and mine.”
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