Laporta Said It Was Not Right That Xavi Would Come To Camp Nou If Bartomeu Was Still In Charge Of Barca

JAKARTA - Joan Laporta warned Xavi Hernandez. He said, if Xavi took the job as Barcelona coach, now is not the right time.

The former Los Blaugrana midfielder revealed that he turned down the opportunity to replace Ernesto Valverde as Barcelona boss in January.

Laporta, who will run for Barcelona again, opened his voice against current president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

"He (Xavi) has to decide when the right time is," Laporta explained as quoted by MARCA, Thursday, July 16. "We have to think that in 2021 there will still be players who are Xavi's teammates and leading them won't be easy."

"But he is an honest man and knows a lot about football. He will make the right decisions and sooner or later he will become coach of Barcelona.

"(But) if I were Xavi, I would never have come to Barcelona on a board like this," said Laporta.

Laporta also touched on the future of Lionel Messi, whose contract at Barcelona expires in 2021.

"I hope he is there in 2021, but I am concerned that a bad decision by the board could lead to an irreversible decision," Laporta said.

Laporta served as Barca president from 2003 to 2010. He now hopes to return to the hot seat.

"This is a dramatic situation and we are working on a proposal to turn things around," Laporta told TV3's' Tot es Mou, confirming his intention to run.

"I'm excited about that. I was president and I hope to continue working for Barcelona."