Skip to main content

Barcelona report: Mino Raiola holds ‘secret meeting' with Barca about Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland, best young players in the world
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Barcelona held a meeting with agent Mino Raiola where they discussed potential moves for players including Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland, according to reports. 

The Norwegian sensation has been linked with several top European clubs, including Barca and Manchester City, as the days count down to his £64 million release clause becoming active on 1 July.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano tweeted that “many opportunities”, including Haaland, were discussed at the meeting, which took place on 16 February.

Haaland’s future has been the subject of speculation for a long time now, but speculation about his next destination will only accelerate as that release clause date approaches.

With Dusan Vlahovic off the market following his January move to Juventus, and PSG’s Kylian Mbappe widely thought to be joining Real Madrid if he departs, Haaland is the most sought-after young striker on the market.

Barca could do with a goalscorer of his calibre, too. 

The former Gunners man isn’t a long-term answer to their problems, though, given he turns 33 this summer, while Haaland is the kind of player they could build an entire project around.

It’s unlikely that City will give up on the 21-year-old without a fight, given their long-standing interest and the absence of a natural number nine in Pep Guardiola’s squad. Let the games begin...

Subscribe to FourFourTwo today and save over a third on shop price

Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio.