The meeting of Joan Laporta and Xavi Hernandez snubbed in the retirement ceremony of Andres Iniesta
It's safe to say that Barcelona president Joan Laporta and former manager Xavi Hernandez are not on the best of terms these days. The former was fired at the end of last season to allow the arrival of Hansi Flick, and although he has done wonders so far, the circumstances surrounding the dismissal have left a bad taste in his mouth.
A few weeks before the dismissal, Laporta had pleaded with Xavi not to resign at the end of the season. He forced himself to double, before being fired anyway. Since then, the couple's relationship has not been at its best, to say the least, and despite both being present at Andres Iniesta's retirement ceremony on Tuesday, the pair did not say goodbye, as and for AS Diary.
President Laporta and Xavi Hernández coincided during Andrés Iniesta's farewell act, but did not even greet each other. There is an absolute coldness between the two. @fansjavimiguel
— Barcacentre (@barcacentre) October 8, 2024
However, it wasn't just the other that Laporta and Xavi chose not to say goodbye to. The former did not exchange pleasantries with Real Madrid representative Emilio Butragueno, amid off-field tensions between the two Clasico rivals. In the case of Xavi, he also avoided talking Barcelona officials like Deco, Bojan Krkic and Flick.
