Haaland 'said yes' to Barcelona as Manchester City face relegation threat after guilty verdict

Erling Haaland is increasingly likely to push for a move away from Manchester City after the club were found guilty of all charges relating to breaches of Premier League financial rules, with reports indicating the Norwegian striker had already signalled his willingness to join Barcelona.

The Premier League confirmed the independent commission’s verdict this week, stating that Manchester City “failed to accurately report its income and expenditure” for the purposes of both Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules and UEFA’s Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Rules. The damning statement used the word “sham” five times, leaving the club’s future — and their squad — in significant doubt.

According to Football Insider, it is “inconceivable” that Haaland would remain at the Etihad Stadium if City were forcibly relegated from the Premier League as part of any sanction.

Haaland has scored 117 goals in 137 appearances since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, winning two league titles during that spell. But Barcelona’s interest in the 26-year-old predates his time in Manchester. Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo has reported that Barça opened talks with Haaland’s then-agent, the late Mino Raiola, as far back as April 2021, with the intention of signing the striker to eventually replace Robert Lewandowski.

Haaland was described as “very excited” by the prospect at the time. In March 2022, then-manager Xavi Hernandez reportedly travelled to Munich to meet with him personally and outline the club’s project. According to the report, “the Norwegian said ‘yes’ to Barça for the following season” — meaning a potential 2023 move — before ultimately choosing City instead.

A second Spanish outlet, Sport, has since claimed that Barcelona would remain Haaland’s preferred destination, a move that would pit him against Kylian Mbappé in El Clásico fixtures.

Whether Barcelona would pursue a deal now is less certain. The club declined to spend heavily on Haaland’s former City team-mate Julián Álvarez last summer, and Raphinha has since been repurposed as a centre-forward with considerable success. However, Haaland represents a categorically different level of opportunity, and club president Joan Laporta is unlikely to overlook a potential deal for a player widely regarded as the best in the world.

Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are also expected to be in contention should City need to sell. Haaland’s market value is reported at around €220 million.