Former FC Barcelona manager Xavi Hernández has claimed that club president Joan Laporta was responsible for blocking the return of Lionel Messi to Barcelona three years ago.
According to comments shared by transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano via his official X handle, Xavi revealed that Messi’s comeback to Camp Nou after Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph had already been agreed in principle.
Romano’s statement:
Xavi: “Leo Messi is never returning to Barcelona simply because Laporta doesn’t want that”. “It not because of La Liga or Jorge Messi is asking for money, that’s all a lie”, told La Vanguardia. “It’s Laporta who is telling his camp that the club can’t afford him”.
Xavi further explained that Laporta personally informed him that financial concerns and potential wage tensions within the squad were the reasons behind the decision not to complete the deal.
“Laporta told me that if Leo came back, there would be a wage war and he couldn’t afford that,”
he added.
Softfootball gathered that the failed reunion remains one of the most controversial episodes in Barcelona’s recent history. Messi initially left the Catalan club in 2021 after negotiations over a new contract collapsed due to financial constraints within the club and restrictions imposed by La Liga.
At the time, Messi had reportedly agreed to a new deal before the club unexpectedly withdrew the offer on the day it was expected to be signed. The Argentine superstar subsequently joined Paris Saint-Germain before later moving to Inter Miami CF in 2023.
Laporta had previously stated that Barcelona were unable to re-sign Messi due to strict salary cap regulations imposed by La Liga. However, Xavi’s latest comments challenge that version of events, suggesting the league had already given approval for the move.
According to Xavi, negotiations between Laporta and Messi’s father had progressed significantly before the club’s president ultimately withdrew from the agreement.
The timing of the remarks has added further intrigue, as Barcelona are currently approaching crucial presidential elections scheduled to take place next week. Xavi has publicly expressed support for presidential candidate Víctor Font, who is challenging Laporta in the upcoming vote.
Despite the political implications of his comments, Xavi denied speculation that he has reached any agreement to return to Barcelona if Font wins the election.
Nevertheless, the interview has sparked renewed debate among Barcelona supporters, particularly as Laporta originally campaigned in 2021 on the promise of keeping Messi at the club. For many fans, the suggestion that the president personally prevented Messi’s return could be viewed as a significant betrayal.
Meanwhile, on the pitch, Barcelona recently secured an important 1–0 victory over Athletic Club in Round 27 of the La Liga during the 2025/26 season on March 7, 2026.
The decisive moment came in the 68th minute when teenage sensation Lamine Yamal scored the only goal of the match following an assist from Pedri.
Once again, attention turned to Yamal, who continues to emerge as one of Barcelona’s most influential players this season. His intelligence on the ball, movement between the lines, and ability to produce decisive moments have made him a key figure in the team’s recent success.
