Xavi says Barcelona president Joan Laporta blocked Lionel Messi return to club - 'Leo didn't come because the president didn't want him'

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Former Barcelona player and manager Xavi Hernandez has said president Joan Laporta blocked a return for Lionel Messi to the club. According to Xavi, Laporta stopped the deal because he was afraid Argentina international Messi would create issues inside the club. Xavi also accused Laporta of lying about the details of what transpired, saying: "Leo had signed".

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Former Barcelona player and manager Xavi Hernandez said that president Joan Laporta blocked Lionel Messi from returning to the club because he feared the Argentina international "would make a war" against him.

In an interview with La Vanguardia, Xavi said that Messi was set to rejoin Barcelona from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 before Laporta intervened.

"The president was not telling the truth about what happened with Messi," Xavi said, per ESPN. "Leo was signed. In January of 2023, after he [Messi] had won the World Cup, we got in touch with him and he was excited to come back, and I see the chance.

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"We spoke until March and I told him: 'Once you give me the OK, I will tell the president because it works perfectly on a football level.' The president negotiated the contract with Leo's dad and we had the green light from La Liga financially, but it's the president who pulled out.

"He told me that if Messi came back, he would make a war. My interest is in telling the truth. Leo didn't come because the president didn't want him.

"It's a lie to say it's because La Liga [wouldn't allow it] or Jorge Messi asked for more money. It was the president and his people who said they could not allow it, that [Laporta] has all the power and that Messi would handle that badly."

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Laporta fires back at 'hurting' Xavi - 'Flick is winning'

Speaking on Monday, Laporta denied Xavi’s accusations and said it was Messi’s camp who withdrew from the deal.

"When I see what Xavi has said, I think about [current Barca coach] Hansi Flick," Laporta told RAC1. "Being Barca president is a tough job and you have to make difficult decisions. I did what I had to do.

"With Xavi, I saw that we were going to lose and that with Flick we were going to win. I understand that he's hurting. With the same players, Flick is winning.

"As for Messi, this is how it was: In 2023, I was told Messi wanted to return and I sent the contract to Jorge Messi, who later came to my house and told me that there would be too much pressure back here and that they would prefer to go to Miami."

Messi came through the Barcelona academy and quickly developed into the club’s star player and a global superstar.

During his time at Barcelona, Messi made 781 appearances and scored 672 goals. He won the league 10 times, as well as winning the UEFA Champions League on four occasions.

Messi left Barcelona in 2021 with financial issues making it difficult for the club to hold onto him.

After two largely unsuccessful seasons with PSG, he joined Inter Miami in the US where he currently plays.

Xavi managed Barcelona from November 2021 to May 2024, winning the Liga title in 2023. Since leaving the Catalan club, Xavi has not managed elsewhere.

His comments come ahead of elections for the presidency at Barcelona, with Laporta and Victor Font the two leading candidates. The president is voted for by club members, who will go to the polls on Sunday.

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