Atletico director backs Xavi over Messi return claims

The controversy over Lionel Messi's failed 2023 return to Barcelona has flared again after former sporting director Mateu Alemany, now an Atletico official, publicly supported Xavi Hernandez's account. Alemany said: "Xavi is right, they told us they had it [approval from La Liga]," a claim that directly contradicts the current board's version ahead of the elections.

Joan Laporta has dismissed those allegations, suggesting Xavi was used as part of a political campaign and saying the move collapsed because of a lack of communication from the player's camp. "Regarding Messi, in 2023 I sent the contract to Jorge Messi, who was very polite.

And in May he told me it couldn't happen because he would be under too much pressure here and that he preferred to go to Miami. And I told him I respected that," he said. La Liga chief Javier Tebas added that the league never provided the necessary financial clearance and that no official request was made.

Spain, Barcelona

lionel messi, xavi hernandez, mateu alemany, atletico, barcelona, joan laporta, jorge messi, la liga, javier tebas, transfer saga