Erling Haaland was back at the centre of Barcelona transfer speculation as his agent and father were pictured arriving in the Spanish city on Thursday.
Catalan newspaper Sport published video on its website that showed superagent Mino Raiola and Alf-Inge Haaland emerging from an airport and being driven away in a private car.
It was reported that the driver was a member of Barcelona president Joan Laporta’s staff, pointing to Raiola and Haaland senior being on the way to a meeting with the newly elected Camp Nou chief.
Haaland has been long linked with a move to Barcelona, having dazzled in 15 months with Borussia Dortmund and emerged as a target for elite clubs across Europe.
Among those reported to have shown interest in the Norwegian are Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Manchester United, suggesting Barça may face a major battle to secure the 20-year-old, should he become available later this year.
Haaland’s €75m Dortmund clause
Haaland is reputed to have a clause in his Dortmund contract that would allow him to leave for €75million at the end of the 2021-22 campaign, although this has never been confirmed by club officials.
His value even in a slightly deflated market is significantly higher than that at present, which may mean a departure at the end of this season suits all parties if there is no prospect of Haaland having a long-term stay in Dortmund.
Barcelona have been hit hard in economic terms by the covid-19 crisis, but president Laporta will want to make his mark after returning to office last month, 11 years after his first stint in charge ended.
For Haaland to join Madrid would be a huge blow to Barça at a time when there is uncertainty over Lionel Messi’s future. Blaugrana captain Messi is due to reach the end of his contract at the end of this season and has been repeatedly linked with PSG.
The club’s record goalscorer may see the arrival of an exciting figure such as Haaland as an incentive to stay in Catalonia and a sign of Barcelona’s ambition.
Since leaving Salzburg to join Dortmund in mid-season during the 2019-20 campaign, Haaland has scored 49 goals in 49 games across all competitions at club level, including 33 in 31 appearances this term.
