Posted by According to Spanish football analyst Guillem Balague, Borussia Dortmund attacker Erling Braut Haaland might join Barcelona in the summer despite the fact that the club is over a billion euros in debt.
The 21-year-old Norwegian has a contract release clause worth 75 million euros (£62.6 million), which means he could leave Dortmund at the conclusion of the season. “Barcelona needs to get rid of big wages and big players,” Balague said on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Euro Leagues podcast. “It’s possible, and they’re confident they can do it.”
Barcelona had to let Argentina forward Lionel Messi depart on a free transfer last summer, despite the pledge of new president Joan Laporta to keep him, due to La Liga’s financial fair play laws, but also because they did not completely believe in him.
Last month, though, they signed 21-year-old Spain forward Ferran Torres from Manchester City for £46.3 million, with Laporta claiming that Barcelona were “back as big players” in the transfer market.
However, due to budgetary constraints, they have yet to be able to register Torres.
“Laporta is selling a hopeful future,” added Balague, who said Barcelona are finalising a loan from American investment bank Goldman Sachs of 1.5bn euros to rebuild the stadium and its surroundings, which has to be added to the 595m euros they already got from the bank. Some of the loan money will cover the 1.3bn euros debt that Laporta has admitted the club has to face.
Source: BBC Sport