Tension within FC Barcelona has drastically escalated following recent statements made by Xavi Hernandez, the former player and coach of the team, who did not hold back in his criticism of Joan Laporta, the current president of the club. With presidential elections approaching, Xavi’s words cast a shadow over Laporta’s re-election, who had until now been considered the frontrunner. During an explosive interview with La Vanguardia, Xavi did not hesitate to point fingers, claiming that the reason Lionel Messi did not return to Barcelona after the end of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 is directly due to Laporta.
Xavi’s accusations did not stop there. He went further by questioning Laporta’s leadership, suggesting that the real power within the club lies with Alejandro Echevarría, a close advisor to the president. “I returned to Barça as coach because of him [Laporta], but he ultimately let me down. Why? Because he dismissed me as coach without telling me the truth, influenced by someone I believe is above the president – which is Alejandro Echevarría. He is the one who dismissed me as coach,” Xavi stated.
Xavi’s frustration is palpable. “This is how Barça operates; it is practically led by Alejandro Echevarría. (Laporta) was someone with whom I had an intimate, friendly relationship, and for that reason, he is perhaps the biggest disappointment in my departure from Barça. He completely let me down,” he said, making it clear that his connection with Laporta was crucial to his return to the club.
Xavi also detailed the circumstances that led to his departure as coach of Barcelona in the summer of 2024, an event that paved the way for Hansi Flick’s arrival. “In January of my last season as coach, I told them that I would not continue from June, for the good of the club and for my personal well-being. From there, the team was winning, and that lasted two or three months until we lost in the Champions League against PSG and in La Liga to Real Madrid,” he explained.
The pressure on Xavi increased, with constant attempts to convince him to stay. “I had a face-to-face meeting with Alejandro because I know he is the one who decides everything. I spoke to him about my doubts because they were telling me to continue, but I didn’t see it clearly. He told me that yes, they were preparing for the next year, that the president was aware of this…” Xavi recalled, revealing the tense atmosphere surrounding the club’s decisions.
The turning point was the elimination from the Champions League against PSG, a moment that changed everything. “At that moment, Alejandro called me. I remember because I was coming home from school with the kids, and he said we had to meet, that they had a board meeting and the majority did not see my continuity clearly. He asked me to go to the training center. There, I told him that there was no problem, that I had already said I was leaving and that I had no need to continue,” Xavi concluded, issuing a clear warning about the instability surrounding the management of FC Barcelona and its consequences for the future of the club.
Xavi’s revelations not only shake the foundations of the current administration but also leave fans on high alert, questioning the future and leadership of FC Barcelona at a critical juncture in its history.
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