Former FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández has alleged that the club’s president, Joan Laporta, prevented the return of club legend Lionel Messi in 2023 to avoid internal tensions.
Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 before later joining Inter Miami CF two years later.
Speaking to Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia, Xavi said discussions had begun early in 2023 after Messi led Argentina to victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“Leo was signed in January 2023 after winning the World Cup, we got in touch, and he told me he wanted to come back,” Xavi said.
According to him, the club had already received financial clearance from La Liga for the deal, but the move was ultimately halted by the club president.
“We had the green light from La Liga (financially), but it was the president who threw it away…
“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. And then suddenly Leo stopped answering my calls because he’d been told that it couldn’t be done.”
Xavi added that the club had been fully prepared for Messi’s return, describing the plan as a symbolic final chapter for the Argentine at Barcelona.
He said there was “no doubt” about the footballing value of the reunion and that the club had hoped to stage a “last dance, like (former NBA star Michael Jordan’s)”.
Laporta, who stepped down as Barcelona president weeks ago to contest the upcoming elections, rejected the claims and suggested that Xavi’s remarks were influenced by frustration.
Responding during a presidential debate on Monday, Laporta said the decision ultimately came from Messi and his representatives.
“With Xavi I saw we were going to lose and with (current coach Hansi Flick) that we will win,” Laporta said.
“I understand that (Xavi) is hurt — with the same players, Flick wins.”
Laporta also revealed that he had sent a contract proposal to Messi’s father and agent, Jorge Messi, who later informed him that the forward believed returning to Barcelona would bring excessive pressure.
Messi remains Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer with 672 goals and won a record 34 trophies during his time at the Camp Nou.
Laporta further disclosed that the club rejected a reported €250 million ($288 million) offer from Paris Saint-Germain for teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, believed to have been made in the summer of 2024.
