Former coach Xavi Hernandez has dropped a sports media grenade, alleging that President Joan Laporta personally sabotaged Lionel Messi’s return to Barcelona in 2023 to avoid a “power struggle.”
Despite financial “green lights” from LaLiga, Xavi told La Vanguardia that Laporta vetoed the deal to protect his own authority.
“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,” Xavi revealed.
Xavi maintains that Messi was ready for a “Last Dance” similar to Michael Jordan’s, but the superstar stopped answering calls once he was told the move was being blocked from the top.
Currently campaigning for re-election, Laporta fired back during a Monday debate, labeling Xavi “bitter” and “hurt.”
Laporta claims Messi’s father, Jorge, rejected the offer due to the “high pressure” of a Camp Nou return.
Laporta compared Xavi to current coach Hansi Flick, stating: “With Xavi I saw we were going to lose and with Flick that we will win.”
The revelation adds a layer of toxicity to the upcoming club elections, as the ghost of Messi’s exit continues to haunt the boardroom.
