"The president is lying about what happened with Messi. Leo was signed. In January of 2023, after he had won the World Cup, I spoke to him and he told me he was excited to learn. We spoke until March and I told him: 'Once you give me the OK, I will tell the president because it works perfectly on a football level.'"
"The president negotiated the contract with Leo's dad [Jorge] and we had the green light from LaLiga financially, but it's the president who pulled out. He told me that if Messi came back, he would make a war [against Laporta]. It was the president and his people who said they could not allow it, that he [Laporta] has all the power and that Messi would handle that badly."
"It's a lie to say it's because LaLiga [wouldn't allow it financially] or Jorge Messi asked for more money. It was the president and his people who said they could not allow it, that he [Laporta] has all the power and that Messi would handle that badly."
Xavi Hernández accused Barcelona president Joan Laporta of preventing Lionel Messi's return to the club in 2023, stating that all arrangements were finalized with PSG and LaLiga approval. Xavi claimed he negotiated with Messi from January through March 2023, with Messi expressing enthusiasm about rejoining Barcelona. According to Xavi, Laporta withdrew from the deal, fearing Messi would challenge his authority and create internal conflict. Xavi rejected alternative explanations citing LaLiga restrictions or financial demands from Messi's family, asserting Laporta's power concerns were the sole reason. Laporta responded by denying these claims, stating the Messi camp initiated the withdrawal and suggesting Xavi's accusations stemmed from being dismissed in 2024.
Read at ESPN.com
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