FC Barcelona has started the season in a promising way. They are currently leading La Liga and have a good position in the Champions League, with the recent victory over Bayern Munich (4-1) standing out. However, sporting director Deco has a clear objective in mind: bringing Erling Haaland to the Catalan club.
An Unfulfillled Wish
Laporta and Deco had planned to sign Norwegian star Erling Haaland from Manchester City this season. However, negotiations fell through. Barça and City failed to reach an agreement that satisfied both parties.
The main reason was the high price that the English club set for the star. rumors suggest that Haaland's cost could be around 200 million euros, an exorbitant figure that Barça can't afford at the moment.
The Pressure of Competition
The search for a star is urgent for Barça, especially after Real Madrid's interest in Kylian Mbappé. The Catalonian club needs to strengthen its squad to remain competitive in the future.
Although Robert Lewandowski is in great shape, his age is a determining factor. Lewandowski, already 36, can't be the only reference in offense for long. That's why Deco sees Haaland as the ideal solution.
Deco's Strategy
The club needs to assess its financial situation. The possibility of signing Haaland will depend on a significant salary reduction. This measure is essential to balance the books and facilitate the transfer of the City star.
The pressure to make these changes is on the directors and the staff, who must rise to the occasion. Deco is not giving up and is postive about his desire to start negotiations to secure the arrival of the player.
Deco is determined to do everything possible to ensure that Haaland wears the Barça jersey. Direct communication with Guardiola is an important step in this strategy.
Pep Guardiola's Reaction
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is aware of Haaland's quality and his impact on the team. However, he's also a tactician who values the continuity of his squad. The possibility of losing one of his best players is not something Guardiola takes lightly.
The relationship between the two clubs is friendly. However, negotiations will be tough and Guardiola will have to weigh up the impact that Haaland's departure would have on his project.