Xavi, the former head coach of Barcelona and a club icon, has found himself embroiled in a heated dispute with the club’s president, Joan Laporta. This conflict erupted after an interview in which Xavi accused Laporta of thwarting Lionel Messi’s potential return to Barcelona, fearing it could lead to a struggle for control within the club.

In a candid conversation with La Vanguardia, Xavi laid bare the strains in his relationship with Barcelona’s leadership. He disclosed efforts to orchestrate a comeback for Messi, a beloved figure and his former teammate, in 2023.

“The president is not being truthful about the Messi situation,” Xavi asserted. “Leo was ready to return. After his World Cup victory in January 2023, I reached out to him, and he expressed enthusiasm about rejoining the club. We stayed in touch until March, and I assured him, ‘Once you give me the green light, I’ll inform the president.’

Despite Xavi’s attempts to contact Messi, communication broke down. “I couldn’t reach Leo, so I spoke with his father, Jorge Messi, who suggested I talk to the president. Everything was prepared for Leo’s ‘last dance,’ akin to Michael Jordan’s legendary farewell. But ultimately, Messi didn’t return because Laporta didn’t want him. It’s false that his father demanded more, or that LaLiga was against it. Laporta wields all the power at Barcelona and knew that Messi’s return would consolidate that power.”

Adding to the controversy, Xavi mentioned that financial restrictions hampered his ability to strengthen the team, contributing to their struggles on the pitch. His proposal to acquire Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad was turned down, and the midfielder eventually signed with Arsenal for £55 million.

Xavi has claimed that Barca president Joan Laporta blocked the return of Messi due to concerns that the Argentinian would ‘be more powerful than him’ at the club

Laporta has hit back at Xavi’s comments, saying that his presidential rival Victor Font is ‘using’ Xavi as part of a smear campaign ahead of this week’s elections

Xavi also claimed he had been hamstrung by financial constraints, which he said contributed to his team’s poor performances. A request to bring in Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad was rejected, with the midfielder later joining Arsenal for £55million. 

He also pointed to the departure of Jordi Cruyff as sporting director as a symbol of the deterioration of a club whose values had long been shaped by the footballing philosophy of Jordi’s father, Johan Cruyff.

Xavi’s comments come ahead of this week’s presidential election, in which Laporta is aiming to be re-elected. Club members will head to the polls on Sunday to choose between him and Victor Font. 

Laporta has since fired back at Xavi’s comments, claiming the Barcelona legend has been left embittered by the fact that his successor, Hansi Flick, has been more successful.

‘When I see what Xavi has said, I think about 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.’

During the interview, Xavi also accused Laporta of being influenced by his former brother-in-law, Alejandro Echevarria, whom he claims holds real power at Barcelona.

‘Laporta convinced me to stay when I had said in January I was leaving. He told me: “I don’t see the team without you.”

‘The president got rid of me without telling me the truth, conditioned by a person who is above him, who is Alejandro Echevarría. That’s to say, who really got rid of me as coach is Alejandro.

‘He (Echevarria) has more power than Laporta, he betrayed me.’ 

Laporta addressed those claims by suggesting his opponent in the presidential race, Font, is ‘using’ Xavi as part of a smear campaign ahead of the vote.

‘What hurts me is that he allowed himself to be used,’ Laporta added. ‘To hurt me, he’s used someone from my inner circle (Alejandro Echevarria). They defended him (Xavi) even when it was indefensible for him to continue, as did Yuste. He’s eager to smear me. Behind Xavi, I understand Victor Font is trying to manipulate this electoral process.’