Xavi Hernandez reacts to Lionel Messi snubbing Barcelona for Inter Miami

Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez understands why Lionel Messi decided to head to Major League Soccer and Inter Miami this summer. 

"We speak a lot and I noticed a change in recent days," Xavi said about Messi while speaking with Jijantes FC on Thursday, as shared by Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens of ESPN. "[I felt] that maybe he didn't see [coming back] so clearly. We have to respect his decision. A lot of the time, we don't put ourselves in the shoes of others and we lack empathy. Being Leo, being Messi cannot be easy. You speak about the spotlight, imagine what it's been like for him. He has never had any quiet." 

As recently as last week, Xavi publicly expressed optimism that Messi could re-sign with Barcelona once his Paris Saint-Germain contract expires at the end of this month. While Messi made it known Wednesday he "really wanted to return to" the Catalan club, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner also explained he didn't want to spend weeks or even months waiting for Barcelona to address financial problems similar to those that caused him to join Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent two years ago. 

In a statement released on Wednesday afternoon ET, Barcelona said they "respected Messi's decision to want to compete in a league with fewer demands, further away from the spotlight and the pressure he has been subject to in recent years." Xavi seemed to reference that line on Thursday. 

"When he's playing, he has to be the best, 10 out of 10 in everything, attacking, defending, he can't miss a penalty," Xavi continued about his former Barcelona teammate and current friend. "He's not had a good two years [in Paris], he has explained that. The hope [he would come back] was generated because we speak a lot. We were all excited: him, me, the club ... but the circumstances didn't fall into place."

Multiple insiders and reporters have suggested Barcelona's pursuit of Messi was merely a public-relations move to appease supporters, as it's thought individuals such as club president Joan Laporta always understood financial fair play limitations would prevent the Spanish giants from signing the superstar who turns 36 years old on June 24. 

"Even if Messi were willing to play for free, league sources said he would have accounted for €25M within Barca's cap, based on previous earnings," Marsden and Llorens noted. "Therefore, registering him is impossible."