Barcelona, Spain – The upcoming presidential election at FC Barcelona has been thrown into further turmoil as former manager Xavi Hernández publicly accused current president Joan Laporta of deliberately preventing Lionel Messi’s return to the club in 2023. The explosive claims, made in an interview with La Vanguardia, allege that Laporta feared a power struggle with the Argentine superstar, derailing a deal that was reportedly close to completion. This revelation comes less than a week before Barcelona members vote for their next president, adding another layer of complexity to an already contentious election.
According to Xavi, discussions with Messi began in January 2023, shortly after Argentina’s World Cup triumph. “Leo was in agreement to sign,” Xavi stated. “After winning the World Cup, we made contact and he told me he wanted to return, and I already saw him in the team. We spoke until March, and I told him, ‘Well, when you give me the green light, I’ll tell the president because, from a footballing point of view, I believe in it.’”
The former Barcelona captain and manager detailed a process where a potential agreement was within reach. “The president began negotiating the contract with Leo’s father, and we had the green light from La Liga financially,” Xavi explained. “But it was the president who made everything fall apart. Did he explain why? Laporta told me directly that if Leo returned, he would ‘make war’ on him and couldn’t allow it.”
Xavi claims Messi subsequently became unreachable, informed that a return was impossible. “I insisted that we had been talking with Leo for five months, that it was done, that from a footballing point of view there was no doubt, that economically we were going to Montjuïc and we were going to have a ‘Last Dance’ like Jordan’s… Everything was ready,” he said, referencing a potential final, glorious chapter for Messi at the club he defined for two decades. The situation highlights the complex relationship between club politics and on-field ambitions at Barcelona.
Fractured Relationship and Election Implications
The accusations come as Joan Laporta seeks re-election as Barcelona president. His primary challenger, Víctor Font, has already seized on the revelations, promising significant changes to the club’s structure if elected. The timing of Xavi’s statements is particularly pointed, aiming to influence the outcome of the March 15th vote.
Xavi maintains a good relationship with Messi, but refrained from detailing their conversations regarding the election. “These are private conversations, and given Leo’s impact, I prefer not to say anything, but I imagine you all know what he thinks,” he commented. He also dismissed any suggestion that his support for Font was linked to a potential return to Barcelona himself, stating, “For now, I don’t think I’ll ever come back to Barça. I’ve already had my time as a player and as a coach.”
The breakdown in Xavi’s relationship with Laporta, once described as “very good,” is also a central theme of the interview. Xavi alleges that Laporta dismissed him as manager without honesty, influenced by Alejandro Echevarría, whom Xavi believes held more power than the president. “In fact, I signed for Barça thanks to him, but he ended up letting me down. Why? He separates himself from me as a coach without telling me the truth, influenced by a person I believe is above the president: Alejandro Echevarría. In other words, the one who fires me as coach is Alejandro,” Xavi stated.
Xavi Details His Departure
Xavi recounted informing the club in January of his final season that he would not continue beyond June, believing it was in the best interest of both parties. However, he claims that the club attempted to persuade him to stay as the team began to find form. “From there, the team starts to win, and they constantly tell me for two or three months, until we lost in the Champions League against PSG and in La Liga against Real Madrid, that I have to stay, they try to convince me,” he explained.
He described a meeting with Echevarría where he sought clarity on the club’s intentions. “I asked him how he saw things, I told him, ‘Listen, I have doubts because you’re asking me to continue, but I don’t see it clearly.’ And he told me that yes, they were preparing for next year, they were planning, the president was decided…”
Following the elimination from the Champions League, Xavi says Echevarría contacted him to inform him of a board decision against his continuation. “Alejandro calls me. I remember it because I was picking up the kids from school. And he tells me that we have to meet, that they had a board meeting and that the majority did not see my continuity favorably. Alejandro asks me to come to the sports city, and there I tell him that there is no problem, that I had already said that I was leaving and that I did not demand to continue.”
Laporta responded to Xavi’s accusations on Monday, expressing surprise and hurt, but insisting that the Messi camp withdrew from a 2023 return and suggesting Xavi was speaking out due to his dismissal in 2024. [1] This back-and-forth underscores the deep divisions within the club and the high stakes of the upcoming election.
What’s Next for Barcelona?
The outcome of the March 15th presidential election will undoubtedly shape the future of FC Barcelona. The accusations leveled by Xavi Hernández have injected a new level of drama into the campaign, forcing voters to consider not only the candidates’ platforms but also the integrity of past leadership. The club faces significant financial challenges and the need to rebuild a competitive squad, and the next president will be tasked with navigating these complexities while attempting to restore stability and success to one of the world’s most iconic football clubs. Barcelona’s next match is against Atlético Madrid on March 17th, a crucial La Liga fixture that will further test the team’s resolve amidst this off-field turmoil.
Fans can follow official updates on the election and the team’s performance through the club’s official website: https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/
