Xavi went on to reveal that the whole saga damaged his relationship with Messi, who was once one of the Argentine's most valued team-mates at Barca. Messi was forced to leave the club in 2021 because they couldn't afford to hand him a contract extension, according to Laporta, and the La Masia academy graduate had his heart broken again when trying to arrange a return to Catalonia, with Xavi seemingly caught in the crossfire.
"Did it take a while before I spoke with Messi again? Yes, because he thought I was part of the whole scheme. It affected my relationship with Leo a lot, but now it’s good again," Xavi said. "He knows that now, he understands it now, but there was a period when I couldn’t communicate with him. It was a shame, but it was because of those who are in charge."
Xavi added on whether Messi could still retrace his steps: "Leo Messi is never returning to Barcelona simply because Laporta doesn’t want that. It not because of La Liga or Jorge Messi is asking for money, that’s all a lie. It’s Laporta who is telling his camp that the club can’t afford him."
Laporta is currently running for a third time as Barcelona president against fellow candidates Victor Font and Marc Ciria.