Former FC Barcelona supervisor Xavi Hernández has claimed that membership president Joan Laporta was answerable for blocking the return of Lionel Messi to Barcelona three years in the past.
In keeping with feedback shared by switch journalist Fabrizio Romano through his official X deal with, Xavi revealed that Messi’s comeback to Camp Nou after Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph had already been agreed in precept.
Romano’s assertion:
Xavi: “Leo Messi is rarely returning to Barcelona just because Laporta doesn’t need that”. “It not due to La Liga or Jorge Messi is asking for cash, that’s all a lie”, instructed La Vanguardia. “It’s Laporta who’s telling his camp that the membership can’t afford him”.
Xavi additional defined that Laporta personally knowledgeable him that monetary issues and potential wage tensions throughout the squad had been the explanations behind the choice to not full the deal.
“Laporta instructed me that if Leo got here again, there could be a wage battle and he couldn’t afford that,”
he added.
Softfootball gathered that the failed reunion stays some of the controversial episodes in Barcelona’s current historical past. Messi initially left the Catalan membership in 2021 after negotiations over a brand new contract collapsed as a consequence of monetary constraints throughout the membership and restrictions imposed by La Liga.
On the time, Messi had reportedly agreed to a brand new deal earlier than the membership unexpectedly withdrew the provide on the day it was anticipated to be signed. The Argentine famous person subsequently joined Paris Saint-Germain earlier than later transferring to Inter Miami CF in 2023.
Laporta had beforehand acknowledged that Barcelona had been unable to re-sign Messi as a consequence of strict wage cap laws imposed by La Liga. Nonetheless, Xavi’s newest feedback problem that model of occasions, suggesting the league had already given approval for the transfer.
In keeping with Xavi, negotiations between Laporta and Messi’s father had progressed considerably earlier than the membership’s president finally withdrew from the settlement.
The timing of the remarks has added additional intrigue, as Barcelona are at the moment approaching essential presidential elections scheduled to happen subsequent week. Xavi has publicly expressed assist for presidential candidate Víctor Font, who’s difficult Laporta within the upcoming vote.
Regardless of the political implications of his feedback, Xavi denied hypothesis that he has reached any settlement to return to Barcelona if Font wins the election.
Nonetheless, the interview has sparked renewed debate amongst Barcelona supporters, significantly as Laporta initially campaigned in 2021 on the promise of retaining Messi on the membership. For a lot of followers, the suggestion that the president personally prevented Messi’s return may very well be considered as a big betrayal.
In the meantime, on the pitch, Barcelona just lately secured an essential 1–0 victory over Athletic Membership in Spherical 27 of the La Liga through the 2025/26 season on March 7, 2026.
The decisive second got here within the 68th minute when teenage sensation Lamine Yamal scored the one aim of the match following an help from Pedri.
As soon as once more, consideration turned to Yamal, who continues to emerge as one in all Barcelona’s most influential gamers this season. His intelligence on the ball, motion between the traces, and talent to provide decisive moments have made him a key determine within the crew’s current success.
