FC Barcelona icon Xavi Hernandez has essentially been banned from club activities such as its ‘Legends’ matches because of his opposition to President Joan Laporta according to Catalunya Radio and AS, who cited anonymous sources.
Xavi – widely-regarded as one of the Blaugrana and Spain’s greatest players of all time – hasn’t been called up to the last two Barca Legends meetings, where the likes of Ronaldinho wowed crowds in Miami and Rivaldo played in Seoul.
AS suspects that this ‘ban’ will stay in place for further Legends events, because the man behind selections is Alejandro Echevarria.
That’s Laporta’s ex-brother-in-law and right-hand man, who Xavi pointed the finger at during the explosive interview he gave to Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia earlier this year.
“Echevarria has more power than Laporta at the club,” Xavi said.
Amid touching on other touchy topics, Xavi also accused Laporta of vetoing Lionel Messi’s proposed 2023 return to the club.
The timing of these comments was especially important. They were viewed as Xavi endorsing Laporta’s main rival at the ballot box – Victor Font – during the build-up to a March election Laporta won.
“The president isn’t telling the truth there either. Leo was signed,” Xavi claimed. “In January 2023, after winning the World Cup, we got in touch and he told me he was keen to come back. We talked until March and I told him: ‘Okay, when you give me the OK, I’ll tell the president because I see it as a good fit for him from a footballing perspective.’
“The president started negotiating the contract with Leo’s father and we had La Liga’s approval, but it was the president who threw everything off,” Xavi added.
FC Barcelona chief Laporta has angered Xavi
AS describes Xavi as “living this situation with anger and indignation”. He was looking forward to playing alongside former teammates and close friends such as Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Javier Mascherano in South Korea.
But as explained by Catalunya Radio, Xavi’s agents then received a call from Luis Sa, to inform them that the iconic number 6 would not be able to star in Seoul.
Once more, we have another example of a frosty relationship between Laporta and one of the head coaches of his second reign, which began in 2021.
Things were previously sour between Laporta and Ronald Koeman – another midfield playing days legend – but the Catalan and Dutchman have already announced they’ve made up.
As for Koeman’s replacement Xavi, however, who took over in late 2021, there are fences to mend.
Xavi announced he was resigning in early 2024 only to go back on his word and vow to see out his contract. After publicly stating Barca was unable to keep up with bitter rival Real Madrid financially as they closed in on a Champions League and La Liga double, however, Laporta dismissed Xavi before the close of a trophyless 2023/2024 campaign.
Xavi has always maintained he has a good relationship with Hansi Flick, who in two terms has returned FC Barcelona to domestic dominance by scooping five out of the six Spanish trophies on offer. Meanwhile, Real Madrid has won nothing since.