Xavi charges against Laporta in explosive rant – ‘Barça is practically run by Alejandro Echevarria’

With only a week remaining before the presidential elections at FC Barcelona, former coach Xavi Hernandez stepped into the spotlight through an interview with La Vanguardia, during which he hit out at Joan Laporta and his trusted aide, Alejandro Echevarria.

Xavi was brought in as manager by Laporta in 2021, a few months after winning the presidential elections.

However, in 2024, the ex-president and current presidential candidate decided to part ways with the former midfielder, with the handling of the club legend’s departure far from ideal.

Xavi opens up
While Xavi has largely maintained silence on the circumstances of his exit, he opened up in the interview and made some startling revelations.

“After my departure, I decided not to make any statements out of respect for Barça. People know how much I love the club; my whole family are Barça fans,” he said, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

“But I feel the need to explain myself. I’ve been carrying this inside and I need to clarify things,” he added.

Starting things off, the ex-manager admitted how his relationship with Laporta was a positive one before, which even led to his appointment, but things went downhill in his final season, with Alejandro Echevarria seemingly at the centre of it.

“In fact, I signed for Barça thanks to him, but he ended up letting me down. Why? He dismissed me as coach without telling me the truth, influenced by someone I believe is above the president, Alejandro Echevarria,” said Xavi.

“In other words, it was Alejandro who dismissed me as coach. That’s how this Barça works, it’s practically run by Alejandro Echevarria,” he asserted.

Further lashing out at him, Xavi added: “He was someone with whom I had a very close friendly relationship. That’s why perhaps the biggest disappointment in my departure from Barça was with him. He failed me completely.”