In a candid disclosure that sheds new light on one of football’s most debated “what-if” scenarios, former Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez has asserted that a definitive agreement was in place for Lionel Messi to rejoin the Catalan giants following his 2022 World Cup success. Despite the stars seemingly aligning for a monumental return to LaLiga, the move was reportedly vetoed at the highest level of the club’s hierarchy.
According to Xavi, the logistical and regulatory hurdles that often plague such high-profile transfers had been cleared, with both the player and the league prepared for the reunion. However, the final hurdle proved insurmountable: the refusal of Club President Joan Laporta to authorize the transaction. Xavi suggests that the decision was rooted in long-term fiscal concerns rather than sporting merit.
Elaborating on the collapse of the negotiations in a discussion with La Vanguardia, Xavi detailed the proximity of the deal:
“Leo Messi back to Barcelona was a done deal after that World Cup won by Argentina. It was done. We also had LaLiga’s green light and Messi wanted to return… but Laporta stopped the signing. Laporta told me that if Leo came back, there would be a wage war and he couldn’t afford that.”
The revelation paints a picture of a fractured consensus within the club’s leadership during that period. While the technical staff and the player himself were allegedly committed to the comeback, the administration ultimately prioritized financial austerity, fearing that Messi’s salary requirements would trigger internal instability and compromise the club’s fragile economic recovery.
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