Manchester City and Barcelona seemingly share a strong business relationship.
Since Pep Guardiola’s arrival in 2016, several City players have headed to Barcelona.
The most recent example is Ilkay Gundogan, who returned to the Etihad Stadium just a season after his time in Spain where he was one of the club’s most in-form players.
Sergio Aguero was another player who left Manchester City to sign for the Catalan giants — a move that did not pan out to be the best due to the Argentine legend suffering a heart problem that meant his time at the club prematurely came to an end.
Other examples include Denis Suarez, Eric Garcia and Ferran Torres — who all made their way to Barcelona.
Erling Haaland named as Barcelona president Joan Laporta’s dream transfer
But in most of the aforementioned cases, the players in question were surplus to requirements at City.
Barring Gundogan, the Sky Blues did not seem to have been struck with a hammer blow at the time by selling the other names.
But it seems like Barcelona president Joan Laporta would have no qualms in leaving Manchester City devastated as his dream remains to sign Erling Haaland, according to journalist David Bernabeu. Interestingly, Lionel Messi backed Haaland to win the Ballon d’Or one day, as well as now-Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe.
Bernabeu told Diario Sport: “The main obsession of the president, I’ve always told you is Erling Haaland. If it’s an obsession, it doesn’t mean he can bring him.”
“But it’s an obsession. So, it’s the piece that marks all the movements. I don’t think Barça will do anything until they see where this piece is going.”
However, David Bernabeu revealed that Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano headed to Norway to persuade Haaland to extend his contract beyond 2027.
“I’m telling you; City is moving. A few weeks ago, coinciding with the last election window, Ferran Soriano was in Norway. Ferran Soriano is the CEO of Manchester City. He was in Norway negotiating with Haaland and his environment the renewal for two more seasons.
“I think Haaland ends his contract in 2027. I’m speaking now from memory. They want to put him In for two more years and without a release clause. Now he has a clause that we don’t know exactly how much it is. But he has a clause.”
It was reported in September that Haaland looks set to extend his contract at Manchester City until 2029.
Pedri and Marc Casado named Haaland as ideal Barcelona signing
In January last year, Pedri named Haaland as his dream signing for Barcelona as the long-term heir to Robert Lewandowski.
“For Barça, I would sign Haaland. He’s a cyborg. He scores a lot of goals. [Robert] Lewandowski is not going to last until he is 60.”
Marc Casado claimed Haaland would be tailor-made for Barcelona as well as he would sign the 24-year-old if he was in sporting director Deco’s shoes.
“If I were Deco for a day, I’d sign Haaland.”
It seems like much like Joan Laporte, there are several key figures at Barcelona that would love to see Haaland — who Jack Grealish described as “unbelievable” accept a transfer to the club.
However, it seems like Blaugrana’s dream may not become a reality as the two-time Premier League winner seems happy with life at Manchester City.
Such is City’s status as a club that once a player signs for them, there are not many bigger career steps they can take.
