Messi’s Near-Return to Barcelona? Tebas Says Not So Fast
9 March 2026
Background
Javier Tebas, head of La Liga, denied the statements made by Xavi Hernandez, the former Barcelona coach, regarding the behind the scenes of Lionel Messi s failed return to the Catalan club in 2023.
Xavi told La Vanguardia that Messi s return to Barcelona was very close during the period he was coaching the team.
Read also Where is the truth Messi settles the debate between Xavi s and Laporta s narratives.
The Spanish coach said that after the 2022 World Cup, he reached out to the Argentine star and they carried on a months long dialogue about the possibility of his return.
Xavi noted that Messi was enthusiastic about returning to Barcelona and that the talks continued through March 2023 with very positive vibes.
Denials and Aftermath
In the interview the coach said Barcelona had obtained an implicit nod from La Liga during the talks with Jorge Messi the player s father and agent. He added that the negotiations had already advanced far before the deal stalled.
Xavi also suggested that Joan Laporta Barcelona s president at the time was the one who halted the deal at the last moment despite significant progress.
Tebas countered this narrative stating outright that La Liga did not grant any approval to re sign Messi and that the supposed green light has no basis in reality.
During a TV program Estudio Estadio on TVE Tebas stressed that La Liga did not authorize any process regarding Messi s return to Barcelona.
Tebas said This is completely false. La Liga did not comment on anything at all nor grant any approval related to this matter.
Punchline 1 In football negotiations truth is often on vacation somewhere between the rumor mill and the training ground
Punchline 2 If this saga were a movie La Liga would be the studio Laporta the producer and Tebas the relentless editor cutting the plot twists
