If there is a club around world football that Manchester City share some similarities with, it is Barcelona.
Pep Guardiola is both clubs’ greatest-ever manager, who is responsible for incorporating a unique style of play that has influenced several other teams across the globe.
Furthermore, due to Guardiola’s presence, Manchester City and Barcelona are associated with often having technically gifted players on their rosters — with names like Lionel Messi and Kevin De Bruyne springing to mind.
As a result, it is no surprise that the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Ferran Torres, Eric Garcia and Joao Cancelo have played for both sides in recent years.
Jordi Cruyff says Barcelona wanted to sign Man City star Erling Haaland
However, with Barcelona becoming one of the best teams in world football again, Manchester City will be keen to protect their key assets such as Erling Haaland, Rodri and Phil Foden from them to name a few.
With Rayan Cherki hoping to win the Ballon d’Or, he will likely have to win the Champions League with City, a competition they will be desperate to emerge triumphant in but face stiff competition from the Spanish giants.
Speaking to SPORT, former Barcelona sporting director Jordi Cruyff has revealed that they were keen on signing Haaland, saying: “Well, it’s true that it was a bit of a dream. We were dreaming of a Haaland, a [Robert] Lewandowski… of having a player who would make an impact, who would be a hallmark.”
Pedri named Haaland as his dream signing for Barcelona as well, and Cruyff further explained: “A ‘we’re back here, we’re ready to compete in everything’ [signing]. The club needed that at that moment. The thing is, it was an impossible transaction. No matter how open he was… it couldn’t be done. And with Lewandowski, I also think that, based on his statistics over the last ten years, he was a sure-fire player. He was going to come and score his goals.”
How much Barcelona could have to pay to sign Erling Haaland
Haaland, who Manchester City signed for £51 million has seen his current transfer value rise to 180 million (£156 million), as per Transfermarkt.
As a result, Barcelona could have to pay such a staggering fee to sign Haaland and perhaps make Jordi Cruyff’s dreams come true.
However, Sky Sports have revealed that unlike when he first signed for City, the star striker’s current contract does not have a release clause in place for clubs to take a stab at signing him.
With that being the case, it seems highly unlikely that Haaland’s time at Manchester City will come to a close anytime soon.
