For the past weeks or so, Manchester City and Real Madrid have been pushed forward as the two main candidates to sign Erling Haaland after this season.
A ‘Top secret’ report from Mundo Deportivo now states Barcelona are still in the picture for the Borussia Dortmund star.
The Catalan club’s sporting project is a ‘great weapon’ to convince the striker to make a switch to the Camp Nou. It’s said he was ‘truly amazed’ by Barca’s display in their 4-0 win over Los Blancos in El Clasico.
Xavi Hernández had travelled to Munich to explain the Blaugrana’s project to the 21-year-old and he was able to ‘verify’ it after watching them against the Madrid club. He realised what the manager had explained to him was ‘not a bluff nor was it something inflated or exaggerated’.
Mundo states: ‘In this sense, the striker has had doubts, as explained by sources close to the player’s agent, information that has also reached the Camp Nou offices.’
Haaland was ‘seriously considering accepting a proposal’ from the Premier League winners. The Citizens offered him a short-term contract, where he could even leave the Etihad after two seasons, if he wasn’t satisfied with the experience in Manchester.
Real Madrid and Pep Guardiola’s side are in the bidding, and Manchester City see themselves ‘best placed’ to sign Haaland.
However, Xavi’s meeting with Haaland and Barca’s fine displays against Real Madrid ‘stop his agreement with Manchester City for now’.
Despite all this, the deal remains complicated for Xavi’s side because of the transfer fee [could be €90m] and the €50m commission that is be paid to the player’s father [€25m] and Mino Raiola [€25m].
Barca, for their part, would only undertake the operation, if the pair lower their claims. In addition to this, the BVB man also needs to ‘sacrifice money’.
Over at Sport, they say Barcelona plan to convince Haaland, who is handling ‘superior’ offers from City and Real Madrid, with their sporting project.
It’s said the Camp Nou side have made one last contact with his entourage to 
reaffirm they are willing to offer him €190m [likely gross] in wages for five seasons. They ‘trust’ him to opt for their ‘ambitious and offensive sports project’.
With City and Real Madrid providing firm competition to Barca, both Mundo and Sport states the final decision is in the hands of the Norwegian. Mundo further adds he must decide his future in the ‘coming weeks, in a month, at the latest’.
Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona will all be eagerly waiting to know Haaland’s decision on his future.
