Revealed: Joan Laporta Sabotaged Messi’s Barcelona Homecoming | OneFootball

For over a year, FC Barcelona fans were told a very specific story. We were told the club was broke. We were told La Liga’s rules made it impossible. We were told Lionel Messi chose the quiet life in Miami over the pressure of Camp Nou.

But Xavi Hernández just called “time” on that narrative.

In a shocking new interview with La Vanguardia, the former manager just dropped a bomb on President Joan Laporta. It turns out, Messi’s return wasn’t just a dream—it was actually done.

“Leo was already signed”

Xavi revealed that the deal to bring the greatest player in club’s history back to Barcelona in 2023 was finished months before the world even knew it was possible.

“Leo Messi’s signing to Barça in 2023 was DONE after the World Cup. Laporta isn’t telling the truth. Leo was already signed.”

According to Xavi, the two legends began plotting the return in January 2023, just weeks after Messi lifted the trophy in Qatar.

“In January 2023… he told me he was excited about returning, and I saw it happening. We talked until March, and I told him: ‘When you give me the OK, I’ll tell the president.’”

Everything was ready. The tactics were set. The money worked. Even La Liga—usually the “bad guy” in these stories—had given the green light.

The Veto: “They would make war”

So, why is Messi in Miami and not Barcelona? Xavi points the finger directly at President Joan Laporta. He claims the President got cold feet and blocked the move for political reasons.

“Laporta told me, literally, that if Leo returned they [Messi and his camp] would make war against him and he couldn’t allow that. And then suddenly Leo stopped answering my calls.”

The fallout was heartbreaking. A friendship that defined the club’s greatest era was nearly destroyed by boardroom lies.

“It affected my relationship with Leo a lot… He thought I was part of the whole scheme. He knows that now, but there was a period when I couldn’t communicate with him.”

“That’s all a lie”

Xavi was clear: the financial excuses we’ve heard for months are a smokescreen.

“Leo Messi is never returning to Barcelona simply because Laporta doesn’t want that. It’s not because of La Liga or Jorge Messi asking for money, that’s all a lie. It’s Laporta who is telling his camp that the club can’t afford him.”

The Response: “The truth is coming out”

The Messi camp isn’t staying quiet. Shortly after the interview went live, Messi’s circle sent a chilling message to journalist Sique Rodriguez:

“The truth is coming out little by little, and there is still more to be revealed…”

Barcelona fans were robbed of a proper goodbye to their king. Not because of a lack of funds, but because of a lack of courage at the top.

As Xavi put it, he was “dying” to coach Messi one last time. Instead, he watched as the board “turned them against each other.”