Two of Barcelona’s most powerful players have reportedly been against the transfer of a generational goal-scoring talent.
Borussia Dortmund superstar Erling Braut Haaland has seen an incredible rise in his stock over the course of the last few months. The Norway international has absolutely killed it with the German side and was no different while playing for a lower team as well in RB Salzburg for the first part of the 2019/20 campaign.
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Haaland was the subject of interest for many top European clubs during the winter’s transfer window, and having been valued at 20 million euros, it is Lucien Favre’s side that is getting the best benefit out of the forward. While the Bundesliga club took advantage of the lower price tag of the player, several clubs were sceptical in paying for an unproven man.
La Liga leaders Barcelona were such a club that believed Haaland needed some more time to prove himself, and as Diario GOL has reported, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were amongst those who vetoed the club’s potential signing. The attackers believed that the Norwegian wouldn’t be able to perform at the Camp Nou.
While Messi and Suarez having a say in his rejection was a major factor, the sporting director Eric Abidal did not continue negotiation for the player even due to the fact that Mino Raiola, Haaland’s agent was demanding a hefty signing on fee from the Catalans if he managed to execute the former Salzburg striker’s move to Barcelona.
Amongst others, Real Madrid are thought to be monitoring Erling Haaland and could make a bid worth 70 million euros in the summer if they can’t bring in Kylian Mbappe. As is the situation now, the Whites stare at Champions League elimination whereas Haaland has given Dortmund safety against Paris Saint-Germain with a first leg brace in a 2-1 triumph.
Do you think Erling Haaland, who has 33 goals and seven assists to his name so far this season, would be a rightful successor to Lionel Messi at club?