Former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernández has disclosed a significant detail about Lionel Messi that fans have long wondered about. He revealed that Barcelona came extremely close to bringing Messi back to Camp Nou in 2023, but the move was halted by the club president. According to Xavi, negotiations lasted five months and everything was nearly finalized before the president's decision changed the course of events.
Speaking on Romario's YouTube channel, Xavi explained that he personally wanted Messi to return and also attempted to sign Neymar and Pedro. While financial constraints prevented some deals, he stated that Messi's return was blocked because the president did not approve it. This contradicts the public perception that Messi simply chose Inter Miami over Barcelona.
Xavi's Detailed Account
Xavi said, "As Barcelona manager, I brought back Dani Alves and tried to bring Neymar, Pedro, and Messi back as well. Pedro and Neymar could not be signed because of the economic situation. As for Messi, the president did not want him back. We tried to sign Messi in 2023. We talked for five months, and everything was ready, but in the end, the president said no."
This statement surprised many fans, as Messi's potential return to Barcelona was one of the biggest football stories at the time. Instead, the Argentine legend joined Inter Miami, embarking on a new chapter in Major League Soccer.
Memories of Playing with Messi
Xavi also shared personal memories of playing alongside Messi. He recalled that Messi always wanted the ball and demanded quick passing during matches and training sessions. "Sometimes Messi would get annoyed with me if I passed the ball to other players. He would come to me and say, 'What are you doing? Pass the ball to me. Get closer, play with me,'" Xavi recounted.
He also remembered first seeing Messi as a teenager at La Masia. "I first saw Messi when he was 16 years old. I saw him and said, 'This is something different. I have never seen this before,'" Xavi said.
Praise for Neymar and Lamine Yamal
Xavi praised Neymar, stating that the Brazilian came closest to reaching Messi's level during his early Barcelona years. He also spoke highly of young star Lamine Yamal, calling him a special talent for the future. "Lamine Yamal is a chosen player. A genius of football. He is already one of the best players in the world right now," Xavi said.
He also supported current Barcelona coach Hansi Flick, expressing confidence that the club now has a strong future due to its young core of players.
