Erling Haaland to Barcelona is “not impossible” – Reports
A meeting between Barcelona’s Sporting Director Deco and Rafaela Pimenta, Erling Haaland’s representative, ignited speculation. The news was initially broadcast on Jijantes’ Twitch channel and spread rapidly on the media. One other notable figure in that meeting was former Barcelona player Maxwell.
It took three hours for the aforementioned people to discuss a topic that is yet to be opened publicly. But rumors about Barcelona turning attention to the Manchester City ace is indisputable. According to beIN Sports, Deco “confirmed that they are looking to strengthen the team for the upcoming season.”
Now according to journalist Gerard Romero, Haaland to Barcelona is “not impossible” but difficult. One Football report that one of the points Deco and Pimenta were discussing was the possibility of Barcelona selling two players to match the Norwegian price in exchange. In the near future, it is reported that Barcelona will have another meeting, this time with the player’s family.
Also Read: Barcelona weighing up potential move for David de Gea: Reports
Erling Haaland’s release clause makes it possible
Last year, in an interview with Diario As, Pimenta said that it was difficult to say no to the President of FC Barcelona, Joan Laporta. “I always say that Laporta can’t ask me for anything in football, it’s not fair, because he knows I’m going to say yes,” she said.
According to his contract with The Citizen, the Norwegian still has another three years stay in Manchester. In fact, with Barcelona’s current financial situation, buying Haaland from Manchester City is not likely to happen.
But the deal could happen earlier since Manchester City put a staggering €200 million release clause, which is eligible to be activated in the summer of 2024, on the player. Yet again, it is not foreseeable for Barcelona to take such a move due to the club’s inflated wage bill and altercations with the Financial Fair Play rules.
Earlier in January, Barcelona’s current manager Xavi Hernandez played down the possibility of a mega transfer to his club:
“I have to deal with the players I have because right now we are not able to think about those kinds of signings,” he said. “Unfortunately, we are not in a privileged situation economically to do that. I am left with the players I have, and with those players, we have to win.”
This saga could be interesting as Barca’s archrival Real Madrid are reportedly to sign Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain. The world’s football attention started to turn to the Mbappe vs Haaland narration in the past few years as the Messi vs Ronaldo tale is heading to an end.
