Xavi Reveals Talks with Messi About a Possible Return

Xavi Opens Up About Communication with Messi

During a discussion on Sunday evening, Xavi revealed that he reached out to Messi following the 2022 World Cup. The two engaged in conversations over several months regarding Messi’s potential comeback to the club. Xavi emphasized that the former PSG player was keen to return, with discussions continuing until March 2023.

Barriers to Messi’s Return

Xavi described that there was even a “green light from LaLiga” in the midst of the club’s negotiations with Messi’s father and agent, Jorge Messi. However, he identified Joan Laporta, the then-president of Barcelona, as the key figure who stalled the process when it was progressing significantly.

Tebas Responds to Xavi’s Claims

In a rebuttal, Tebas remarked, “That’s not accurate. That’s simply not the case. We would first have needed to know Messi’s expected salary in order to align with Barça’s Financial Fair Play requirements, which were challenging at that time.”

He further stated, “Given his high market value, this situation introduced numerous complexities. No one from Barça made any inquiries.”