Xavi pays high price: You're against Laporta - you can't play for Barca's legends

He who has power makes the rules. In sport, in football, in life... And in the following particular case, at Barcelona.

It's clear who holds the reins at Camp Nou - the president, Joan Laporta and his inner circle. So, anyone who is against them cannot expect favourable treatment at Barca, even if it's their legend.

Xavi: "Laporta betrayed me'

For some time, Xavi Hernandez has been a (rare) opponent of the current Catalans' leadership. The former Barcelona captain and manager clashed with Laporta after being sacked two years ago, and hasn't held back from criticizing the 63-year-old and his associates.

Nevertheless, it comes at a high price, which Xavi has had to pay, ready or not.

Laporta's brutal response to Xavi's claims

A couple of months ago, during the election campaign, he publicly called out Laporta's right-hand man and former brother-in-law, Alejandro Echevarria, claiming that he had more power at the club than the president.

And the punishment has recently come.

According to Catalunya Radio and Diario AS, Xavi was overlooked when the squad of Barcelona's legends for games in Seoul and Miami was being assembled. And guess who does the selection? You guessed it - Echevarria.

The same sources report that after he was bypassed a month ago for the US action, Xavi was furious, and the explanation came shortly, as the promoter of the legends' matches, Luis Sa, reportedly contacted his agents and told them that the 46-year-old wasn't welcome and that he wouldn't be invited for the game in South Korea, either.

The fact that Xavi regularly played for Barca's legends before his statement about Echevarria, being part of the squad in Mumbai, Los Angeles, and Mexico, is a clear indicator that this veto placed on his name isn't a coincidence.

A shame... An icon like Xavi didn't deserve to be treated this way.