Tebas contradicts Xavi’s claim about La Liga approving Messi return to Barcelona in 2023 – ‘Not true’ | OneFootball

LaLiga president Javier Tebas has denied the claims made by Xavi Hernandez regarding the failed return of Lionel Messi to FC Barcelona in 2023.

Over the weekend, Xavi granted an explosive interview to La Vanguardia, during which he sensationally stated that Messi’s return to the club was all but secured, only for Joan Laporta to pull the plug on it.

The former manager went as far as claiming that there had been a green light from La Liga for the operation as well, given that Barça’s Financial Fair Play situation at the time was quite dire.

“The president began negotiating the contract with Leo’s father, and we had the green light from La Liga, but it was the president who threw it all away,” Xavi said.

“Laporta told me, word for word, that if Leo came back, he would wage war on him and that he couldn’t allow that to happen,” he added.

Tebas denies Xavi’s claim

However, Tebas, in an interview on Telediario (h/t MARCA), asserted that La Liga never granted authorisation for the Messi return operation and rejected the idea that there had been financial approval as mentioned by Xavi.

“It’s not true. La Liga did not authorise anything whatsoever, nor did it have the OK,” stated the La Liga chief.

Xavi had claimed that La Liga had approved Messi’s return. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

Tebas’ statement completely contradicts what Xavi stated during his interview, which came a week away from the Barcelona presidential elections, in which the former manager has endorsed Victor Font – Laporta’s opposition.

What has Laporta said

Laporta, for his part, maintained during the electoral debate earlier today that Messi’s return did not materialise because the former captain opted not to return.

“It was the same with Messi: when we couldn’t renew his contract, due to financial reasons, in 2023 he told me that Messi wanted to return,” stated Laporta.

“I sent the contract to Jorge Messi, who later came to my house and told me that he would have too much here – ‘pressure,’” he further revealed.

Moreover, the ex-president also hit out at Xavi, claiming that he was being used by Font in the electoral race.

“Behind Xavi, there is someone who is using him, and that is Victor Font. He is trying to muddy the waters,” Laporta claimed.