Joan Laporta has publicly responded to latest criticism from former FC Barcelona supervisor Xavi Hernández, insisting that the membership is now transferring ahead efficiently below present head coach Hansi Flick.
The feedback come amid a heated interval in Barcelona’s presidential election marketing campaign, the place Laporta stays the favorite to retain his place, though latest statements from Xavi have added stress to the political panorama on the membership.
Softfootball gathered that Xavi not too long ago accused Laporta of blocking the return of Lionel Messi in 2023 and likewise advised that Laporta’s shut affiliate Alejandro Echevarría performs a significant position in decision-making on the membership.
Talking throughout an electoral debate organised by Grupo Godó, Laporta responded strongly to these remarks. Based on a report shared by switch journalist Fabrizio Romano on his official X deal with, Laporta admitted he was disillusioned by the feedback made by the previous Barcelona midfielder and supervisor.
Fabrizio’s publish:
Joan Laporta: “Xavi’s interview stunned me and damage me. I perceive that he’s damage. With the identical gamers, Flick wins… and Xavi didn’t”. “With Xavi I noticed that we have been going to lose and with Flick, that we’re going to win”.
Laporta defended his choice to switch Xavi with Flick, suggesting that the workforce’s latest enchancment validates the change in management.
The Barcelona president additionally advised that Xavi could also be aligning himself with Laporta’s electoral rival Víctor Font, who’s difficult him within the upcoming presidential elections.
Laporta additional mirrored on a number of tough choices he has taken throughout his time main Barcelona, together with the departures of Messi, former coach Ronald Koeman, and Xavi himself.
These are the three hardest choices I’ve ever made. Messi, Koeman and Xavi. I did it with Barça’s pursuits at coronary heart. I had two of them as gamers and these are choices you must make. They’re legends of Barça.
Laporta defined.
The tensions between the 2 figures escalated after Xavi revealed in a latest interview that he had requested the Barcelona board to signal Martín Zubimendi when the midfielder was nonetheless enjoying for Actual Sociedad.
Based on Xavi, the membership declined the transfer resulting from monetary causes regardless of the departure of long-time defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets. Zubimendi later moved to Arsenal, the place he has since change into an necessary determine below supervisor Mikel Arteta.
With Barcelona’s presidential elections approaching, the rising public disagreement between Laporta and one of many membership’s most iconic figures has added additional drama to an already intense marketing campaign that might form the membership’s future route.
