Barcelona President Joan Laporta has scathingly dismissed Xavi Hernández’s allegations of “shadow rule” at the club, claiming the former coach is being used as a political tool by rival Víctor Font to undermine the upcoming elections.
Joan Laporta has hit back at Xavi Hernández’s explosive claims, suggesting the former manager’s dismissal was purely performance-based.
During a presidential debate, Laporta noted that the decision was vindicated by Hansi Flick’s current success, stating, “The same players who lost with Xavi, now win with Flick.”
He accused rival candidate Víctor Font of “pulling the strings” behind Xavi to destabilize his re-election campaign with “lies and falsehoods.”
The president also refuted claims he blocked Lionel Messi’s 2023 return, maintaining that the player’s camp chose Inter Miami to avoid pressure.
Laporta defended his advisor, Alejandro Echevarría, against Xavi’s “shadow manager” accusations, asserting that the change in leadership was necessary for the club’s sporting future.
“With Xavi I saw that we would continue to lose,” Laporta added, doubling down on the controversial 2024 sacking.