FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta fired back at his former coach’s claims of betrayal, framing the “truth” as a political manoeuvre ahead of the March 15 vote
The lead-up to the 2026 FC Barcelona presidential elections has reached a point of unprecedented internal friction following some explosive remarks by former coach Xavi Hernández.
In an interview just one week before club members head to the polls, Xavi broke nearly two years of silence to level accusations of dishonesty and shadow leadership against current candidate Joan Laporta.
Speaking to La Vanguardia, the legendary midfielder alleged that his dismissal in May 2024 was orchestrated not by the president, but by Laporta’s right-hand man Alejandro Echevarría, whom Xavi claims “practically runs” the club.
Joan Laporta, appearing at a Grupo Godó election debate on Monday morning responded with visible frustration.
The president dismissed Xavi’s claims as a smear campaign orchestrated by rival candidate Víctor Font.
“It hurts me that he has allowed himself to be used,” Laporta said, suggesting that Xavi’s timing was a calculated attempt to destabilize his re-election bid.
Laporta further defended the decision to pivot from Xavi to current manager Hansi Flick, arguing that the results on the pitch speak for themselves.
“With Xavi, we would have continued losing, and with Flick, we started winning,” Laporta added. “With the same players, Xavi lost and Flick won.”
The alleged Messi veto
The core of the dispute centres on the influence of Echevarría, Laporta’s close advisor and former brother-in-law.
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Xavi claimed that his relationship with Laporta eroded because the president was “influenced by someone who I believe is above the president.”
According to Xavi, Echevarría led a media campaign against him, even telling key players such as Ronald Araújo and Pedri that the coach wanted them sold, a claim Xavi vehemently denied.
Perhaps the most damaging revelation from the interview concerned the failed return of Leo Messi in 2023. Xavi disputed Laporta’s official narrative that the deal was financially impossible.
“The president isn’t telling the truth. Leo was a done deal in January 2023,” Xavi noted.
He claimed that after months of negotiations and receiving the green light from LaLiga, Laporta personally blocked the transfer.
According to Xavi, the president told him “word for word” that Messi’s return would mean “war” for his management and that he could not allow the Argentine’s influence to threaten his control of the club.
Laporta used the debate to double down on his defence of Echevarría and Rafa Yuste, noting that those within his “circle of trust” were actually Xavi’s fiercest defenders during his tenure.
He accused the opposition of using a “style I don’t like” by platforming “lies and falsehoods” to damage his reputation.
Laporta warned members that behind Xavi’s statements lies a broader attempt by Víctor Font to “smear” the current board’s achievements, particularly the successful transition to the Hansi Flick era.
