It's not April Fool's: Haaland's agent and father are in Barcelona for the negotiations

Is it just starting? Or is it already ended? Erling Haaland’s father Alfie and his manager, (in)famous Mino Raiola have arrived in Barcelona, presumable for the negotiations, since it’s widely known that the Borussia Dortmund striker will leave the club in June. Both men were picked up by Joan Laporta’s first assistant and are headed for Kamp Nou, as reported by Spanish outlet SPORT.

Erling Haaland’s transfer is one of the most coveted football stories this year (as well as Mbappe and his situation), and in time, four clubs have established themselves on the shortlist to buy the player, with a transfer fee and ambition being the main category: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, and Manchester United. But, after Raiola recently spoke very badly about both Manchester clubs, it seems that Spain will be his client’s preferred destination.

After winning in Barcelona elections, Juan Laporta has been left with huge debt (around 1 billion euros), but he still wants this transfer, since it would certainly keep Messi in Barca, would secure a long-term solution at the striker position and would (again) solidify the Catalonians as one of the world’s biggest clubs. We are talking about a potential 180 million euros transfer.

Haaland has just exploded this season, and even though he has a contract with an exit clause of „only“ 100 million euros for 2022, nobody wants to wait for another year, especially not Laporta. Raiola's excellent personal relationship with Laporta means there is optimism at the Camp Nou that a deal for Haaland could be reached. 

Haaland agent: Guardiola is a dog, I don’t give a f**k if I never work again with Man United

During the famous interview for the Athletic, Haaland’s agent also said something which the player’s club, Borussia Dortmund has seen as a „declaration of war“, per Sport 1.

„With Haaland, everybody was wrong. He did things much quicker than everybody imagined. Haaland is in front of his own development. He is ahead of his own schedule. Maybe I was too careful when I said, "Oh no, let's move to Dortmund instead of I-don't-know-where," said Raiola. That statement, clearly undermining Borussia has not gone down too well with the club’s directors.

Surely, this will not be the end, as Raiola will at least try to see what Real Madrid is offering, but it is a strong indication that Barcelona is in the game. Seriously.