Xavi’s Explosive Revelation: Laporta Blocked Messi’s Barcelona Return, Not Money or Merit
8 March 2026
Barcelona legend and former coach Xavi Hernandez breaks his silence ahead of the club’s elections, claiming Lionel Messi’s return was blocked by President Joan Laporta, not by money or the sporting plan. He frames the issue as a political decision that overshadowed sporting possibilities and left a lasting stain on the Barça project.
In an exclusive chat with La Vanguardia published Sunday—just ahead of Barça’s electoral process—Xavi suggested Laporta’s public narrative does not tell the whole truth: Messi would have joined the club under the right conditions. Xavi says that in January 2023, after Messi became world champion, talks about a comeback were lively and continued through March. He recalls telling Messi that once he had the green light, he would inform the president because he believed Messi could contribute on the pitch.
“In January 2023, after he won the World Cup, we contacted him; he was excited to return, and we spoke until March. I told him I’d inform the president as soon as I had the green light because I saw him as a sporting fit,” Xavi stated, recounting events that could have reshaped Barça’s path.
Laporta’s Reversal
Xavi goes on to describe a sequence where Laporta allegedly negotiated a contract with Messi’s father, with the backing of La Liga’s green light, but then abruptly withdrew. He quotes Laporta as telling him that a Messi return would spark a war against him and that he could not allow it. Soon after, Messi reportedly stopped answering calls, as both sides faced the impression that the deal could not be closed.
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The piece also threads other linked items, illustrating how off-field battles ripple through on-pitch affairs and public perception of Barça’s leadership.
The Relationship with Messi
On his current relationship with Messi, Xavi says he maintains a good rapport with Leo. Messi did not return to Barcelona, he explains, not because of the league’s stance or Messi’s representatives but because Laporta did not want it. He argues Messi could wield influence over decisions and that those dynamics complicated discussions at the time.
Xavi emphasizes that rebuilding communication with Messi took time, as Messi initially believed he was entangled in a broader network. He asserts that their relationship has since improved and that Messi’s return would have been a major asset for Barcelona — potentially even for the 2026 World Cup campaign. He notes that the obstacles were rooted in leadership choices rather than sporting clarity and expresses a continued wish for Messi’s return, while acknowledging the reality of the moment.
When asked if he discusses Barça elections with Messi, Xavi replies that the conversations are personal. He hints that Messi’s influence makes public comments delicate, and suggests readers may guess what he thinks about the situation.
Punchline time: If Messi had come back, Barça would have needed a bigger trophy cabinet just to store all the headlines about “almost there.” Punchline two: political drama in football is like a transfer window—lots of talk, little action, and yet somehow the popcorn is always free.
