Xavi Hernandez has claimed that club president Joan Laporta blocked the return of Lionel Messi to the club in 2023 to avoid a potential power struggle.
Xavi said the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner had expressed his desire to return to Barcelona shortly after winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina.
According to him, discussions had progressed and the club had received financial clearance from La Liga for the move before it was eventually halted.
Xavi revealed that Messi had initially agreed to return and that plans were already being made for what he described as a “last dance” at the Camp Nou.
However, he alleged that Laporta personally stopped the deal, claiming the president feared a possible conflict if the Argentine superstar rejoined the club.
The former midfielder also stated that Messi later stopped responding to his calls after being informed that the move would no longer happen.
Reacting to the claims, Laporta dismissed Xavi’s comments, suggesting the former coach might still be bitter about his exit from the club.
Laporta said Messi’s father and agent, Jorge Messi, had informed him that the footballer eventually decided against returning to Barcelona due to the pressure surrounding the move.
The Barcelona president also defended the club’s current direction under coach Hansi Flick, saying the team was now in a better position to succeed.
Messi remains Barcelona’s all-time top scorer with 672 goals and won a club-record 34 trophies during his time at the Camp Nou.
Laporta also disclosed that Barcelona rejected a €250 million offer from Paris Saint-Germain for teenage star Lamine Yamal in the summer of 2024.