Xavi Hernandez has renewed his attack on Barcelona president Joan Laporta, asserting that Laporta was the one who prevented Lionel Messi’s return in 2023.
Before the Barcelona elections last March, Xavi made the same claim, but Laporta denied it, stating that the Barça legend was resentful of Hansi Flick’s success after he succeeded him as Blaugrana coach.
In a recent interview, Xavi spoke about Messi’s potential return, saying, “The president didn’t want him back. We tried to sign him in 2023, but Laporta ruined everything.”
He added, “We were talking to Messi for five months; everything was ready, but in the end, the president said no.”
Regarding his time as Barcelona coach, Xavi, unlike Laporta, believes it was a success considering all the circumstances, having managed to bring the Catalan club back into contention for titles.
The 43-year-old added, “I was confident in my ability to continue with the club. There was already an agreement with the president, until someone from within the club came along and ruined it.”
He continued, “I think we built a good project together. It was a very strong foundation for this generation, and Flick completed the task afterward.”
He concluded, “Flick is doing an exceptional job, and I think the players have matured enough under him. This team is capable of playing together for ten years. I’ve overseen the training and development of all the players here.”
It’s worth noting that during his time as Barcelona coach, Xavi led Barça to two La Liga titles and a Spanish Super Cup. His best achievement in the Champions League was reaching the quarter-finals.
