Overview
- In a La Vanguardia interview, Xavi said Lionel Messi was effectively agreed to return in early 2023 and claimed Joan Laporta pulled out, warning Messi would "wage war" against him.
- Laporta countered that Barcelona sent a contract to Jorge Messi and that Messi’s camp opted for Inter Miami due to the pressure of returning to Camp Nou.
- LaLiga president Javier Tebas contradicted Xavi’s account, saying the league did not authorize anything regarding a 2023 Barcelona deal for Messi.
- Laporta defended dismissing Xavi by pointing to Hansi Flick’s improved results with the same squad and rejected allegations of shadow influence while backing advisor Alejandro Echevarría.
- Xavi has declared support for rival candidate Víctor Font as the dispute plays out days before the vote, with Messi now in his third season at Inter Miami.