Buenos Aires, March 9 (NA) – Joan Laporta, former president of Barcelona, and Spanish idol Xavi Hernández engaged in a heated exchange over comments about Argentine Lionel Messi.
According to the Argentine News Agency, it all started when Xavi, one of the most decorated players in Barcelona's history and a World Cup champion with the Spanish national team, accused Laporta of sabotaging Messi's return to the Catalan club in 2023.
"In January he was a world champion, and we contacted him. He told me he had the desire to return to the club and I saw that," Xavi began, also recalling that "we spoke until February or March and I told him that when I got his okay I would tell the president (Laporta)".
However, once Laporta entered the negotiations, things started to get complicated: "As soon as the president got involved, they started negotiating with his father, the contract was done, green light from La Liga and in the end the president pulled it back. With the same players, Flick wins and Xavi doesn't."
Laporta returned to the presidency in 2021 after receiving strong support from Messi, although he quickly left the Catalan club in a traumatic departure to join Paris Saint-Germain in France.
Last month, Laporta resigned as president of Barcelona to be able to run in the elections to be held on March 15.
"I called Leo, he doesn't answer the phone because on the other side they tell him it's not going to happen," Xavi lamented.
Far from sitting with his arms crossed, Laporta responded to Xavi and minimized his work as Barcelona's head coach: "His interview surprised and hurt me. I understand that he is pained. That is to say, he is not telling the truth again."
