Barcelona legend and former manager Xavi Hernandez has quietly been frozen out of his boyhood club as the most significant casualty in a civil war at the club.

A Camp Nou deity of sorts, Xavi does not even get to play alongside his ex-teammates for the Barcelona Legends for reasons that can be directly linked to his toxic fallout with President Joan Laporta.

Here is how Xavi was completely locked out of his ancestral home.

How Xavi Went From Barcelona Saviour to Club Outcast

Former Barcelona captain Xavi has suffered a dramatic fall from grace at the Spotify Camp Nou following events that began during a mixed spell as manager of the club between 2021 and 2024.

Xavi returned to the club after a spell as manager of Qatari outfit Al-Sadd to take over from fellow club legend Ronald Koeman. The Spaniard joined the club at the height of its financial difficulty and led them to a La Liga title in his first full season in charge, the 2022-23 season.

He was sacked by the club one year later and spoke to La Vanguardia about his strained relationship with Laporta, publicly backing opposition candidate Victor Font during the club's elections earlier this year.

Xavi was conspicuously absent as the Barcelona Legends took on the Liverpool Legends in Seoul only days ago, with the club having reportedly asked him to stay away as he was not welcome despite wanting to play.

The Interview That Deepened the Rift With Laporta

Xavi's present travails at Barcelona can be traced back to comments he made during the build-up to the presidential election earlier this year in March.

The former midfielder held an explosive interview with Ara, in which he accused Laporta of letting him down. Among his claims were that the club was being run by Alejandro Echevarria, the right-hand man of the president.

He accused Echevarria of poisoning the minds of senior players at the club against him by going behind him to inform them that the manager was looking to cut them loose.

Xavi also accused the president of blocking a move for Lionel Messi at the last minute after an agreement had been reached in the summer of 2023, quoting him as having said he feared a rebellion against his presidency if Messi rejoined the club.

Laporta defended himself against Xavi's claims by pointing out that the former manager held a grudge was hurt, hence his unfounded accusations. He also explained the backstory of Messi's failed attempt as being a choice made by the superstar and his entourage after deliberation.

Why Alejandro Echevarria Became Central to the Conflict

A former brother-in-law to Barcelona president Laporta. Alejandro Echevarria does not have an official designation at FC Barcelona.

He has worked in close cahoots with Laporta since resigning from the board at the club in 2005 due to a conflict of interests.

Echeverria was not spared during Xavi's outburst, as the manager accused him of being the brains behind the decision to sack him in 2024.

Reports from AS and Catalunya Radio indicate that Echevarria has taken his pound of flesh by leaving out Xavi as he drew up the list of Barcelona Legends for the games, a task he reportedly carried out personally.

Can Barcelona and Xavi Repair Their Relationship?

Barcelona's decision to freeze out Xavi is regarded as being a temporary one, at least until the reopened wounds from his March interview heal again. The status of the former midfielder in the eyes of the club and its fans make it difficult, even, to criticize him.

Club president Laporta may look to resolve the issue by extending an olive branch to the Spaniard as a way to appreciate him for his time at the club. He laid the foundations for the success enjoyed by Hansi Flick by handing a debut to 15-year-old Lamine Yamal, introducing the world to the prodigy.

There is a future in which Xavi will regain his place in Barcelona history and have the freedom to represent the club however he desires. For this to happen, though, healing must take place within the warring parties to allow a Catalan son return to his ancestral home.