Xavi reveals that Messi was ready to return to Barcelona in 2023.

In an explosive revelation, Xavi Hernandez, former coach of FC Barcelona, stated that Lionel Messi was ready to return to the club in 2023, but an unexpected obstacle arose: president Joan Laporta blocked the agreement. The claim, made during an interview with La Vanguardia, sheds new light on Messi’s departure to Inter Miami, a move that left many Barcelona fans perplexed.

Messi, who had recently won the World Cup with Argentina, was seeking new horizons as his contract with Paris Saint-Germain neared its end that summer. Amid this uncertainty, Xavi revealed that he had direct conversations with his former teammate and that a verbal agreement was practically sealed for Messi to return to Camp Nou, where he had already made history by scoring 672 goals.

“Leo was signed. In January 2023, after winning the World Cup, I spoke with him and he was excited to return,” Xavi stated. He continued, explaining that the discussions extended until March and that once Messi gave the green light, he would inform the president about the feasibility of the return. “The president negotiated the contract with Leo’s father [Jorge] and we had the green light from La Liga financially, but it was the president who backed out.”

The atmosphere of tension escalated when Xavi revealed that Laporta had stated that if Messi returned, he would face a “war” against the president. “It is a lie to say that it was La Liga that did not allow it or that Jorge Messi asked for more money. It was the president and his team who said they could not allow it. He had all the power and that Messi would handle the situation poorly,” Xavi asserted.

Messi wanted to live his “Last Dance,” a triumphant return similar to the one Michael Jordan had in his career. However, after the collapse of negotiations, Xavi tried to get in touch with Messi but received no response. “I spoke with his father and said I did not understand anything. He told me to talk to the president,” Xavi revealed, emphasizing that everything was prepared for a glorious return.

The situation became even more complicated for Xavi, who left Barcelona in May 2024, just four months after the board convinced him to reconsider his original decision to leave at the end of the season. Amid the turmoil, he claimed he was fired by Alejandro Echevarría, Laporta’s former brother-in-law, whom he described as someone who “practically runs the club.”

Xavi’s statements come at a delicate time for Laporta, who is running in the club’s elections next Sunday. The president, who has been in his position for 12 years, countered Xavi’s allegations, justifying the coach’s dismissal as a necessary decision for the future of Barcelona. “When I see what Xavi said, I think of [current Barça coach] Hansi Flick. Being president of Barça is a difficult job and you have to make tough decisions. I did what needed to be done,” Laporta commented.

The clash between Xavi and Laporta not only exposes the complexity of Barcelona’s internal situation but also raises questions about the club’s future and the relationship between its glorious history and the contemporary challenges it faces. The Messi saga remains a controversial and emotional topic, keeping fans and analysts in suspense about what could have been a triumphant return to Camp Nou.