Barça's Messi Meltdown: Xavi Slams Laporta, But President's Firing Back with Resentment Claims
Xavi Hernández has accused Barcelona president Joan Laporta of sabotaging Lionel Messi's potential 2023 return, with former director Mateu Alemany backing the claims. Laporta hit back, blaming resentment from Xavi's sacking and suggesting ulterior motives tied to elections and rival clubs. The row highlights ongoing tensions at the Camp Nou, contrasting Xavi's tenure with Hansi Flick's success.
Barça's Endless Messi Saga: Xavi Drops Bombshell, Laporta Plays the Victim Card
Picture this: you're at the pub, pint in hand, and the lads are arguing over whether Lionel Messi could've waltzed back into the Camp Nou last summer. Enter Xavi Hernández, ex-Barça hero turned manager, who's just lobbed a grenade into the mix. He reckons a deal was all but sealed for Messi to ditch PSG and return home, only for president Joan Laporta to pull the plug out of sheer paranoia.
Xavi didn't mince words in his tell-all. He claimed Laporta saw Messi as a threat – some power struggle bollocks where Leo might "wage war" on the board. "It wasn't La Liga or Leo's dad haggling for more dosh," Xavi spat. "It was the president saying no because he couldn't handle sharing the spotlight."
Mateu Alemany Jumps In: 'Xavi's Spot On'
If that wasn't enough to stir the pot, along comes Mateu Alemany, Barça's former director of football – now cosying up at Atlético Madrid. Chatting on Movistar+, he backed Xavi to the hilt: "They told us La Liga had given the green light." Alemany was there when Deco took over, so he's no random punter mouthing off.
Messi himself has chimed in over the years, especially in that juicy 2023 chat with Mundo Deportivo and SPORT. He admitted he was buzzing to return but scarred from his messy 2021 exit under Laporta's watch. "I heard La Liga had okayed it, but I wasn't waiting around like last time," Leo said. Family first, decision made – hello Inter Miami.
Laporta, who's eyeing a fourth term this weekend, isn't taking this lying down. Speaking to Onze de Esport 3 (as covered by MD), he dismissed it all as sour grapes. "I had a top relationship with Alemany, but resentment makes folk fib," he shrugged. He insists La Liga never stamped final approval, and they were banking on charming Javier Tebas into it.
Laporta's Conspiracy Theory: Font, Atlético, and Flick's Revenge
Get this – Laporta's spinning a proper yarn. He reckons rival presidential hopeful Víctor Font has "used" Xavi like a puppet, and Alemany's just stirring the pot to nobble Barça from his new Atlético perch. "He's smart, that'll destabilise a rival," Laporta smirked. Even Tebas backed him up on RTVE, saying Barça never even rang about it.
But the real kicker? Laporta dragged Xavi's sacking into it. The 46-year-old got the boot last summer, and now with Hansi Flick at the helm, Barça's winning with near enough the same squad. "Xavi's view is tainted by bitterness," Laporta jabbed. "His words prove we nailed that decision – same players, Xavi lost, Flick wins."
It's classic Camp Nou chaos, innit? A club legend accusing the suits of cocking up the dream return of the GOAT, backed by an ex-exec, and the president countering with paranoia about resentments and rivalries. As Football Espana (via OneFootball) reported, this row's timing is pants for Laporta ahead of elections.
Messi's off lighting up MLS, but the 'what ifs' linger like a bad hangover. Could La Liga have bent rules? Was it egos clashing? Or just finances biting hard? One thing's sure: this saga's got more twists than a telenovela. Grab another round, lads – we're in for the long haul with Barça's boardroom bunfight.