Former coach Xavi claims Joan Laporta stopped Lionel Messi’s 2023 return to Barcelona to avoid a political war within the club.

BARCELONA: Former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez (pic) has claimed club president Joan Laporta deliberately blocked Lionel Messi’s emotional return to the club in 2023.

Xavi said the move was scuppered because Laporta feared it would trigger a power struggle. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 before joining Inter Miami two years later.

“Leo was signed, in January 2023 after winning the World Cup, we got in touch and he told me he wanted to come back,” Xavi told Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia. He stated they had financial approval from La Liga, but the president rejected the deal.

“Laporta told me, word for word, that if Leo came back he was going to wage war against him and that he couldn’t allow that,” Xavi revealed. The former coach said Messi then stopped answering his calls after being informed the move was impossible.

Xavi insisted everything was prepared for a triumphant homecoming. He described the plan as a “last dance”, akin to former NBA legend Michael Jordan’s final chapter with the Chicago Bulls.

Laporta, who recently resigned to run for re-election, suggested Xavi was bitter. He claimed Messi’s father and agent, Jorge, told him the superstar had decided against a return.

“With Xavi I saw we were going to lose and with (current coach Hansi) Flick that we will win,” Laporta said during a presidential debate. He added that Jorge Messi came to his house and said “here there would be too much pressure” for a comeback.

Laporta also claimed Barcelona rejected a EUR 250 million (approximately RM 1.2 billion) offer from PSG for teenage star Lamine Yamal in 2024. Messi remains Barcelona’s all-time top scorer with 672 goals and a club-record 34 trophies.

 The Sun Malaysia