Xavi Speaks Publicly On Messi FC Barcelona Return

FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has publicly spoken on Lionel Messi’s potential return to the club.

The pair were both products of Barca’s famed La Masia academy and were senior teammates until Xavi left for Al-Sadd in 2015 following a treble win under Luis Enrique.

Xavi then went into management at the Qatari club upon retirement, yet Messi left FC Barcelona for Paris Saint Germain in August last year before the Catalan took over the managerial reins to succeed Ronald Koeman in November.

In recent days, however, there have been reports that Xavi wants Messi to return to Camp Nou when his PSG deal expires on June 30, 2023.

Currently in the U.S. where his men are conducting a preseason tour, Xavi commented on a reunion with Messi ahead of Barca’s match with Juventus in Dallas on Tuesday night.

As per the Argentine re-joining this summer, Xavi acknowledged “it is impossible”, though he did then state: “Hopefully Messi’s story with Barca hasn’t ended.”

“Now he has a contract, it is impossible. There is no point in talking about Leo right now. He is the best soccer player in the world and in history. As the president said, I hope Messi’s story with Barça doesn’t end, but now is not the time to talk about it,” was what Xavi remarked in full.

News of Messi starting a second chapter in Catalonia was sparked by comments president Joan Laporta made to ESPN at the weekend.

“Messi was everything,” Laporta admitted in a sit-down chat.

“To Barca, he’s been possibly its greatest player, the most efficient. To me he’s only comparable to Johan Cruyff. But it had to happen one day. We had to make a decision as a consequence of what we inherited. The institution is in charge of players, coaches.

“I would hope that the Messi chapter isn’t over,” Laporta continued. “I think it’s our responsibility to try to … find a moment to fix that chapter, which is still open and hasn’t closed, so it turns out like it should have, and that it has a more beautiful ending.”

Then later on Sunday evening, SPORT reported that Xavi had personally requested Messi’s recapture in the belief that the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner still has plenty of offer in the elite and can also end his playing days amicably as a Barca player.