Messi Back to Barça? Laporta's Comeback Gambit and a Statue Dilemma
9 March 2026
What Laporta Revealed About Messi's Return
Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta spoke about Lionel Messi's alleged request to return to the Blaugrana, painting a picture that blends prestige with club politics. Messi remains a central figure in Barça’s legend and in the club's search for direction, stirring strong feelings on all sides. The remarks arrive amid renewed scrutiny of Messi’s relationship with Xavi Hernandez and the leadership decisions shaping Barça’s present and future.
Xavi Hernandez, a Barça legend and former coach, has publicly criticized Laporta at times and revealed that Messi’s return was not pursued after the 2022 World Cup, despite the player’s willingness. Laporta’s comments were captured during a campaign debate reported by Sport, where he described a bold plan to honor Messi’s legacy if the project advances.
Laporta said: “We propose erecting a statue for Messi and staging a ceremonial match when the new stadium is complete. The sporting project would feature Flick on the bench and Deco in the offices. The duo works well together, and keeping them would be beneficial. If Font wins, it could become the main obstacle to continuing this project.”
He added that Flick reportedly felt he wouldn’t want to continue without Deco, while Xavi argued he’d relaxed too much trying to balance work and family life, doubting Barça could compete with Real Madrid for years. Deco reportedly told Laporta that Xavi pressed for major changes, had long been unhappy with the lineup and refereeing, and believed the squad was not competitive.
Reactions, Credibility, and the Road Ahead for Barça
Laporta continued: “When we couldn't renew Messi’s contract for economic reasons, Xavi approached me in March 2023 saying he wanted Messi back. Messi’s father told me in May that Leo would face enormous pressure if he returned, and that they preferred Miami.”
Font responded to Laporta’s remarks: “Messi thinks exactly as Xavi explained in the interview. It’s a matter of credibility, and Messi will speak out one day. Breaking ties for personal interests with the greatest player in history, reopening a wound for thousands of Barça fans, and then trying to seal it with a statue is among the most disappointing things.”
Laporta added that “Barcelona would be bigger with Messi.” He reminded that in 2021 he suggested Messi would stay only if his presidency won, signaling a lack of a credible plan to keep Leo. He closed by saying Barça does not belong to a single president but to thousands of fans, and hinted that proceeding with rivals could help move on from the past. He even suggested that leadership distributes “Barcelonian” badges to people like Xavi or Messi.
Read also: Laporta responds harshly to Xavi: Messi era could return, while Barça risks losing Lewis
Punchline time: If Messi does come back, the statue might need a bigger pedestal than the new stadium’s stands. Second joke: Barça’s transfer policy seems to work best when translated into sculptures—a statue is cheaper than signing a world-class midfielder, and it never argues with the referee.
