Former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez appeared in an extensive newspaper interview with 'La Vanguardia', where he discussed many issues, including the departure of Lionel Messi.

Xavi spoke about Lionel Messi, the current Inter Miami player: 'I talk to him and we have a good relationship. We talked about the elections, but these are private conversations. I'd rather not say anything, but I think you know what he thinks, right?'.

About Messi's return: 'Joan Laporta is not telling the truth, Messi was very close to returning when I was the coach, the agreement was almost finished in January 2023. I contacted him after he won the World Cup, and he said he was excited to return, and I saw that. We talked until March, and I told him: when you give me the green light, I'll tell the president. We had approval from La Liga, but Laporta backed out of everything. He literally told me that if Messi returned, he would declare war on him and his management, and he couldn't allow that. I tried to contact Leo, but he didn't respond, so I spoke to his father, who told me: talk to the president. Everything was ready, it would have been 'The Last Dance' like Michael Jordan'.

He added: 'I will never return to Barcelona. My era as a player and coach has ended. Now I just want to tell the truth, Messi did not return to Barcelona because Laporta didn't want that. It's not true that his father asked for more money or that La Liga refused. Laporta has all the power in the club and knew Messi would affect that power'.

About Hansi Flick: 'I like his team, it's a dominant and attacking team. Barcelona fans are enjoying it, and I'm happy because I think we've laid a good foundation for the project's continuity. The backbone of the team consists of Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsi, and Fermín López... and they are players we bet on'.

He continued: 'Hansi Flick came to my house to apologize because two weeks before my dismissal, I asked him about rumors saying he would come to coach Barcelona, and he told me they were not true. The club asked him not to say anything, so he came to apologize.'

He emphasized: 'Of course, we made mistakes. I did a lot of self-criticism with the coaching staff. In my first year, I told the president that if we didn't sign some players, we wouldn't continue because we wouldn't reach the highest level. The following year, I lowered my demands, and I blame myself for that'.

He explained: 'I requested the signing of Martin Zubimendi, but I was told it was impossible for economic reasons. Jordi Cruyff left due to a lack of respect within the club, and then they dispensed with Mateu Alemany. I should have left at that time too'.

He continued: 'I was disappointed in Laporta in the end. He decided to let me go without telling the truth and was greatly influenced by Alejandro Echevarria, who has more influence than Laporta himself. He was the one who ousted me.'

Regarding Alejandro Echevarria, known as the shadow man within Barcelona: 'He almost runs the club. We had a strong friendship, but he completely let me down. In January, I told them I wouldn't continue for the club's and my own interest. I held meetings with him because he is the person who decides everything. He insisted that I stay, but after our loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, he called me and said the management was no longer sure of my continuation'.

About the decisive meeting before his departure: 'Deco and Bojan Krkic were in the meeting, and I asked him directly about his position and why he was talking to me this way. At that moment, they decided to let me go, although they didn't say it explicitly'.

He noted: 'They launched a media campaign against me and talked to players like Sergi Roberto, Ronald Araujo, Pedri, and Raphinha, telling them I wanted to sell them, which is not true. There was no signed sale list from me. We only talked about selling one player, but I won't mention his name out of respect for him.'

Regarding Deco: 'I respect Deco, but he is constrained by Echevarria's decisions because he is the one who decides everything.'

He concluded: 'I'm not speaking out of spite, but I just want people to know that the club needs a comprehensive change. Barcelona is not working well, I've experienced it myself, and I want everyone to know the truth.'