According to former Barcelona player and manager Xavi Hernández, Lionel Messi was on the verge of making an emotional comeback to the team following the 2022 World Cup, but club president Joan Laporta ultimately put an end to the plan.
According to Naija News, Xavi revealed the information in an interview with a Spanish media source, claiming that the whole truth about Messi’s possible return to Camp Nou has not been revealed.
The former Barcelona manager claimed that talks had advanced considerably and that the Argentine star had personally expressed his wish to rejoin the team where he established his illustrious career.
One of Barcelona’s most famous former players, Xavi, clarified that the first interactions with Messi occurred in January 2023.
He claimed that the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was eager and open about the prospect of donning the Blaugrana jersey once more.
Xavi stated, “The president is not telling the full truth about what happened,” noting that Messi had indicated his desire to rejoin the Catalan powerhouses.
The former coach also revealed that Messi personally contacted him about the possible transfer in March of that same year.
Xavi claims that in order to complete the transaction, the Argentine forward volunteered to talk with Laporta directly.
“Messi got in touch with me and said he would talk to Laporta directly to finish the return whenever I thought it appropriate,” he claimed.
Laporta and Jorge Messi, the player’s father and agent, were in the midst of discussions at that time. The goal of the talks was to finalize the intended return’s contractual specifics.
As Barcelona started to recover from the financial crisis left over by former president Josep Maria Bartomeu’s administration, Xavi pointed out that La Liga had even approved the process.
There was increasing hope that Messi may make a spectacular comeback to Camp Nou as the financial situation steadily improved.
Why Laporta Terminated the Messi Agreement
Xavi claimed that Laporta ultimately canceled the move despite the advancements.
The former midfielder emphasized that neither Messi’s desire to return nor the player’s financial demands were factors in the decision.
He said the Argentine legend was not requesting special financial terms or higher wages.
Rather, Xavi proposed that the president’s inner circle’s worries were crucial.
He clarified, “There was a feeling that the club could not afford Messi’s return.”
He continued by saying that some members of the leadership thought Messi’s influence would be too strong within the organization and could make it more difficult to control the team’s athletic endeavor and the dressing room.
According to Naija News, ties between the two teams have drastically declined after Messi’s tearful departure from Barcelona in 2021.
A remarkable period at Camp Nou came to an end when the Argentine quit the team due to financial difficulties that prevented Barcelona from extending his contract.
