Erling Haaland: Man City striker would consider Real Madrid move, ‘Barcelona can’t afford him’
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland would consider a move to Real Madrid if he was to leave the Etihad.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who states that Barcelona “can’t afford” to sign the 25-year-old.
It comes after Barcelona re-elected John Laporta as their president, who has vowed to strengthen the team across his next five-year term.
Man City do not plan to lose Haaland anytime soon, with the striker having netted 154 goals for the club in 188 appearances since arriving in 2022.
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VISIT THE TRANSFER HUBBarcelona move ‘never going to happen’ for Erling Haaland
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – wasn’t surprised that Laporta was voted back in as Barcelona president.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks any links of Haaland joining the Catalan club are “pie in the sky.”
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Yeah, look, Laporta won with a 68 per cemt majority of the votes and [Victor] Font got something like 30 per cent, so a very, very comprehensive victory for Laporta.
“On the back of obviously some great recent football results over the last few seasons for Barcelona, titles, etc. So it really wasn’t a surprise.
“Really, before the election, I thought, well, here we go. They normally pluck out one of the top names in the world, say, I’m going to bring him to the club, and they try and get the fans going that way, but it was never going to happen, I don’t think, for Haaland.
“If he was going to go anywhere, I think it would be Real Madrid. I don’t think he would go to Barcelona. Plus, they can’t afford him, to be honest. There’s just no way. So I’m afraid it was pie in the sky electioneering.”
Rodri to Real Madrid exit update
Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown has told Football Insider that Rodri could be tempted to leave Man City for Real Madrid in the summer.
Pep Guardiola could freshen up his squad in the summer following their Champions League exit, and with their hopes of winning the Premier League title fading.
Rodri has had an injury-hit campaign, and the 29-year-old could join the likes of Bernardo Silva and John Stones by leaving the club.
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