BARCELONA presidential candidate Joan Laporta has spectacularly hinted he will try to sign Erling Haaland if he’s voted in to bring back the glory days.
The Borussia Dortmund star, 20, is quickly proving his hot start to life at Borussia Dortmund was no fluke, set to join Kylian Mbappe in becoming the ‘new Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’.
Joan Laporta has promised Barcelona will move to sign Erling Haaland if he’s elected presidentCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Joan Laporta is keen to bring the glory days back to BarcelonaCredit: EPA
Haaland has scored 18 Champions League goals in just 13 matches following his double in the 3-2 win over Sevilla in the last-16 first-leg on Wednesday.
And Laporta has suggested he will go all-out to rival Real Madrid for Haaland’s signature if he’s voted in for a second crack at life as Barcelona president.
The lawyer also served as club chief between 2003 and 2010, in Messi’s hugely-successful formative years at the club.
Asked whether the club could move for Haaland, Laporta cryptically claimed: “If we have to improve the team, I already have the cards ready for the players.
“I have the cards to face all situations.
“Barca supporters can be sure that their club will soon be prosperous again.”
Laporta is not the only presidential candidate to promise a move for Haaland.
The Norwegian is believed to have a clause in his contract allowing him to join Real Madrid for just £63million in the summer of 2022.
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Haaland and Mbappe are well on their way to taking over from Ronaldo and Messi
But Emili Rousand promised to make a move early to snatch Haaland from Los Blancos’ grasp.
In December, Rousand’s No2, Josep Maria Minguella, claimed: “If we win, the following day I will call Mino Raiola and we will accept his conditions.
“I have already advised him of that.
“We have a world class sports project that is not showing just now, but Emili Rousaud has a plan that will turn this unfortunate situation [at Barcelona] around.”
Meanwhile, Laporta also reaffirmed his desire to keep Messi at the club, with the Argentine set to finally quit the Nou Camp to join Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain.
He added: “I remain determined to convince Messi to continue at Barca.
“Within the limits of our possibilities, competing against clubs that can pay him much more, I will try to convince him to continue and help us build the Barca of the future.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
