Xavi, in his latest interview, has opened up on who stopped Lionel Messi from completing a move back to Barcelona after the 2022 World Cup.
In a bombshell interview with La Vanguardia, former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernández has finally broken his silence on the failed return of Lionel Messi to the Camp Nou, pointing the finger directly at club president Joan Laporta.
Despite years of public narratives suggesting that La Liga’s financial restrictions or wage demands from the Messi camp were the primary hurdles, Xavi insists the reality was far simpler: the club’s leadership blocked the move.
"It Was a Done Deal"
According to Xavi, the framework for Messi’s homecoming was fully established following Argentina’s historic World Cup victory in Qatar. The manager revealed that both the player and the league were ready to make the reunion a reality.
"Leo Messi back to Barcelona was a done deal after that World Cup won by Argentina. It was done," Xavi told La Vanguardia. "We also had La Liga’s green light and Messi wanted to return… but Laporta stopped the signing."
The revelation contradicts long-standing reports that the Catalan giants were legally unable to register the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner. Instead, Xavi claims that President Joan Laporta expressed internal fears regarding the locker room hierarchy and the club's delicate wage structure.
"Laporta told me that if Leo came back, there would be a wage war and he couldn't afford that," Xavi explained.
Xavi was quick to defend both the player and his father, Jorge Messi, dismissing claims that financial greed played any part in the breakdown of negotiations. He characterized the public excuses regarding "financial fair play" as a smoke screen used by the club's board.
"It's not because of La Liga or Jorge Messi asking for money, that’s all a lie," Xavi stated firmly. "It’s Laporta who is telling his camp that the club can’t afford him. Leo Messi is never returning to Barcelona simply because Laporta doesn’t want that."
The comments pull back the curtain on one of the most controversial periods in the club's recent history. While fans held out hope for a "Last Dance" for the club’s greatest ever player, it appears the decision to move on was a deliberate choice by the presidency to avoid internal friction.
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