Barcelona are finally starting to see light at the end of the tunnel after years of financial turmoil, and their return to the Camp Nou this season will usher in a new era with Erling Haaland potentially leading the way.
Erling Haaland would dream of signing for Barcelona (Image: Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Barcelona are “ready” to sign Erling Haaland from Manchester City this summer, a board member has claimed. Haaland, 25, has long been touted as Barça president Joan Laporta’s dream signing, despite signing a new contract with City last year that will keep him at the Etihad until 2034.
Laporta is up for re-election next month and is the favorite to win. Since Laporta was elected for a second term in 2021, Barcelona have been in financial trouble, epitomized by Lionel Messi’s departure and a delayed return to Camp Nou that was literally riddled with problems.
Rivals have accused Laporta of manipulating Barça’s finances, with the club racking up more than £1bn in debt, paying unpaid transfer fees to multiple teams and rebuilding their iconic stadium. But Joan Soler, a long-time board member under Laporta, dismissed these claims and insisted the La Liga champions had the ability to sign a player like Haaland.
“Yes, it is possible to sign players like Julián Álvarez or Erling Haaland. These transfers will pay for themselves within five years and Barcelona’s finances are ready for that,” Soler declared in an interview with Cadena SER radio station ahead of the March 15 general elections.
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Soler added: “Ultimately, Barça must be very careful about the promises made regarding the wage structure. We have set limits for ourselves and we will not exceed them. We must sign players at market prices, keeping an eye on our wage structure.”
Barça are exploring the market for a striker ahead of Robert Lewandowski’s contract expiring in June. Alvarez is considered a potential replacement for Haaland, but Atletico Madrid have reportedly offered Barcelona an eye-watering price of £174.5m.
Sport claims that Haaland’s City teammate Omar Marmouche has been identified as a more affordable target. The Egyptian joined in January last year and has been in and out of Pep Guardiola’s side this season.
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Omar Marmouche becomes Barcelona target (Image: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Barcelona are said to believe 25-year-old Marmouche is the perfect fit for Hansi Flick’s system. Sporting director Deco plans to sell Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Ansu Fati to fund new signings.
They could also free up cash by cutting Lewandowski’s salary with a new contract or firing him outright. Barca will also need to decide whether to make Marcus Rashford a permanent deal, as he has an option to buy him from Manchester United for £26 million.
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