Overview
- Xavi Hernández alleges Lionel Messi was virtually set to rejoin Barcelona in early 2023 but says Joan Laporta personally pulled the plug, arguing the decision was not due to LaLiga rules or finances.
- Joan Laporta publicly rejects Xavi’s account, saying the interview surprised and hurt him and asserting that with nearly the same squad Hansi Flick now wins where Xavi did not.
- Laporta offers a different explanation for 2023, saying Jorge Messi told him in May that a comeback “would not work” due to pressure and that the family opted for Inter Miami.
- Xavi portrays the club’s leadership as secretive and dishonest, claims a media campaign distorted his 2024 exit, and calls for structural and professional reform at Barcelona.
- Hansi Flick privately apologized to Xavi for how his hiring was handled, then declined to detail the episode publicly, saying he knows the truth and will keep it private.