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FC Barcelona icon Xavi Hernandez has essentially been banned from club activities such as its ‘Legends’ matches because of his opposition to President Joan Laporta according to Catalunya Radio and AS, who cited anonymous sources.<\/p>\n
Anadolu via Getty Images<\/p>\n
FC Barcelona icon Xavi Hernandez<\/a> has essentially been banned from club activities such as its ‘Legends’ matches because of his opposition to President Joan Laporta<\/a> according to Catalunya Radio and AS<\/a>, who cited anonymous sources.<\/p>\n Xavi – widely-regarded as one of the Blaugrana and Spain\u2019s greatest players of all time – hasn\u2019t been called up to the last two Barca Legends meetings, where the likes of Ronaldinho wowed crowds in Miami and Rivaldo played in Seoul.<\/p>\n AS suspects that this \u2018ban\u2019 will stay in place for further Legends events, because the man behind selections is Alejandro Echevarria.<\/p>\n That\u2019s Laporta\u2019s ex-brother-in-law and right-hand man, who Xavi pointed the finger at during the explosive interview he gave to Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia<\/a> earlier this year.<\/p>\n \u201cEchevarria has more power than Laporta at the club,\u201d Xavi said.<\/p>\n Amid touching on other touchy topics, Xavi also accused Laporta of vetoing Lionel Messi<\/a>\u2019s proposed 2023 return to the club. <\/p>\n The timing of these comments was especially important. They were viewed as Xavi endorsing Laporta\u2019s main rival at the ballot box – Victor Font – during the build-up to a March election Laporta won.<\/p>\n \u201cThe president isn\u2019t telling the truth there either. Leo was signed,\u201d Xavi claimed. \u201cIn January 2023, after winning the World Cup, we got in touch and he told me he was keen to come back. We talked until March and I told him: ‘Okay, when you give me the OK, I\u2019ll tell the president because I see it as a good fit for him from a footballing perspective.\u2019 <\/p>\n \u201cThe president started negotiating the contract with Leo\u2019s father and we had La Liga\u2019s approval, but it was the president who threw everything off,\u201d Xavi added.<\/p>\n FC Barcelona chief Laporta has angered Xavi<\/p>\n AS describes Xavi as \u201cliving this situation with anger and indignation\u201d. He was looking forward to playing alongside former teammates and close friends such as Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba<\/a> and Javier Mascherano in South Korea. <\/p>\n But as explained by Catalunya Radio, Xavi\u2019s agents then received a call from Luis Sa, to inform them that the iconic number 6 would not be able to star in Seoul.<\/p>\n Once more, we have another example of a frosty relationship between Laporta and one of the head coaches of his second reign, which began in 2021.<\/p>\n Things were previously sour between Laporta and Ronald Koeman – another midfield playing days legend – but the Catalan and Dutchman have already announced they\u2019ve made up<\/a>.<\/p>\n As for Koeman\u2019s replacement Xavi, however, who took over in late 2021, there are fences to mend.<\/p>\n Xavi announced he was resigning in early 2024 only to go back on his word and vow to see out his contract. After publicly stating Barca was unable to keep up with bitter rival Real Madrid financially as they closed in on a Champions League and La Liga double, however, Laporta dismissed Xavi before the close of a trophyless 2023\/2024 campaign.<\/p>\n