Xavi slams Joan Laporta over failed Arsenal star pursuit

Xavi Hernandez has publicly criticized Barcelona president Joan Laporta for blocking the signing of Martin Zubimendi and allegedly orchestrating a media campaign to undermine his managerial tenure.

Former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has launched a scathing attack on club president Joan Laporta, revealing the board blocked his move for Arsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

Xavi identified the Spaniard as the ideal successor to Sergio Busquets in 2023, but the request was denied due to financial constraints.

“Busquets was going to leave, so I asked them to sign Zubimendi,” Xavi stated during the interview.

Beyond recruitment failures, Xavi accused the leadership of undermining his authority and spreading falsehoods to key players.

He claimed the board told stars like Pedri and Araujo that he wanted them sold, labeling the tactics “disappointing” and “not true.”

Supporting rival candidate Victor Font, Xavi reflected on his exit, noting: “When they started making the decisions, the team’s level dropped, and that’s no coincidence.”