Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta has fought fire with fire by laying into club legend Xavi.
Laporta is standing for re-election but his weakest point has been his relationship with the club’s two greatest-ever players.
Lionel Messi left during his tenure in 2021, and club captain Xavi has insisted it was Laporta’s fault.
Now responding to the midfielder, Laporta even derided Xavi’s coaching stint back at the club under his presidency.
“I understand that he’s hurt because, with the same players, Xavi was losing and Hansi Flick is winning,” Laporta brutally commented.
“He’s allowed himself to be used by [presidential opponent Victor] Font.”
Adding why he sacked Xavi as coach, Laporta continued: “Xavi himself explained the reasons why I had to fire him: he became complacent and couldn’t balance work and family life.
“Furthermore, he said that Barça wouldn’t be competitive against Real Madrid or in Europe in two years.
“He asked to replace key players, said the squad wasn’t competitive, and was constantly dissatisfied with it.”
What did Xavi say about Messi?
Xavi made the allegation that Laporta blocked Messi’s return to Barca when he left PSG in 2023.
“Laporta told me verbatim that if Leo came back, he was going to wage war against him and that he couldn’t allow it,” he said.
“It greatly affected my relationship with Leo, but it’s good again now.”
Another blow for Laporta
Despite Laporta trying to firefight Xavi’s comments, Messi’s camp have allegedly corroborated Xavi’s side of events.
Leading pundit Sique Rodríguez said: “Messi accepts Xavi’s version and those close to him are saying that the truth is coming out, little by little.”
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