Xavi Claims Messi Agreed to Return to Barcelona

Xavi Hernandez, the former Barcelona manager, stated that Lionel Messi had agreed to a deal to return to Barcelona following Argentina's victory in the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar. Despite this agreement, Barcelona's president, Joan Laporta, has declined to sign off on the deal.

Laporta expressed concerns that Messi's return would impose a financial burden on the club. Xavi mentioned in an interview with La Vanguardia that while Messi desires to return to LaLiga, Laporta's decision to halt the signing is based on the club's financial situation, indicating that they could not afford to bring Messi back at this time.

The situation highlights the tension between the aspirations of the club's former players and the financial realities faced by the organization.