The chase for the generational talent, Erling Braut Haaland is in full swing. Amidst transfer links to major financial giants of top European leagues, his agent Mino Raiola and father Alf-Inge Haaland has decided to visit every club interested in him to negotiate a proper deal this summer.
Updated: Mino Raiola, celebrated football agent, passes away at 54. Click to know more
On the other hand, Borussia Dortmund has made it very clear they won’t let go of their star man easily and will only settle for a fee of around £180 million.
Sporting director Michael Zorc in an interview for Sky Germany claimed to have done a meeting with Mino Raiola to make his intention clear about Haaland. He wishes to have the Norwegian for multiple seasons. However, a super-agent like Mino Raiola won’t hold up if the right kind of transfer fee is landed for his client. Thus, this tour carries significant importance to Haaland’s future in the summer.
Mino Raiola and his client’s father traveled to Barcelona and Real Madrid to meet with the respective club’s board of directors. The two Spanish juggernauts desperately want the goal-scoring prodigy. In addition to that, the pair has also decided to listen to clubs from England on the weekend.
VISITS TO BARCELONA AND MADRID
Firstly Mino Raiola and father Rasdal paid a trip to the Catalan giants on Thursday morning to know their plans under the new president, Joan Laporta. Along with football director Mateu Alemany, they had a meeting lasting more than two hours. Over there it was told that Laporta is more than willing to have his man this summer.
Barcelona and Real Madrid leaking info about their meeting with Mino Raiola and Haaland's father just to show they are in the race.
Both sides have financial issues and have asked their players to take a wage cut.
At this time, will either of them spend €100M on Haaland?
— Sripad (@falsewinger) April 1, 2021
Despite the financial strain, the club is suffering from and the stubbornness of Dortmund over Haaland’s fee, Laporta wants this deal to get on the line to rekindle Barcelona’s dominance. Even though he knows that other clubs are in a healthier state in terms of monetary strength. His reelection to the Barcelona board appears to be on the brighter side of things.
Marca reported that Barcelona are capable of matching Haaland’s wage demand, known by the discussion in the meeting. Rumors are unveiling that Laporta wants Haaland to keep Lionel Messi at Camp Nou which is an important step for the club to take to head forward. But of course, they are not the only ones preparing for bigger things in the future.
Next, it was the turn for Real Madrid. Haaland’s representative talked extensively in the second meeting of the day now with Florentino Perez that lasted till evening. Real Madrid’s president took a sharp note of the player’s situation in an attempt to lure the striker to Santiago Bernabeu. Madrid feels their strong relationship with Dortmund can give them a cumulative edge over their arch-rivals for the 20-year-old signature.
TRIP TO ENGLAND
At the time of writing, Mino Raiola’s team has already landed in England to have detailed conversations with the interested club from the region. The two Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Liverpool are the hot favorites to be the preferred destination for Haaland in the upcoming transaction window.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Liverpool is the first stoppage for the duo. The meeting is scheduled for Friday. Despite the Premier League holders focusing on their issues at the back, the FSG group won’t feel shy to add an attacker to their blunt out-of-form frontline. A player of his quality is enough to set the club back on title contention, the place they thoroughly belong.
Solskjaer about Haaland future: “It’s not fair to talk about Erling as Man Utd manager. He will make his own mind up. Who we are interested, I don’t want to comment. Now there are lot of rumours… Hopefully we can sit here with a player no one has written about…”. 🔴 #MUFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 2, 2021
It is expected Mino Raiola will then sit with Roman Abramovic to chalk out a potential plan for the deal, the world has set an eye on. Chelsea are in for something huge with Thomas Tuchel building up a fiery squad gunning for silverware. Having already spent millions in the previous window, the Russian businessman won’t deny throw-in in the cash again for instant success at the club.
Both Manchester clubs are also on the list. Manchester United have already tried to bring in the Bryne academy graduate from Molde even before he joined Borussia Dortmund in January 2020. This will be the turn for them to check on him but a deal looks well out of their hands now. That leaves Manchester City to open up their financial muscle to make their dream come true.
The departure of club legend, Sergio Aguero this summer has opened up new transfer plans for Pep Guardiola. With Harry Kane and Jack Grealish on the wishlist, their priority undoubtedly is Erling Haaland’s signature. Meeting with his agent will determine if City are keen to spend a large chunk of money to meet his asking price.
It is safe to say now that Mino Raiola’s travel means Haaland is likely to pack up his luggage this summer rather than waiting for yet another season to make his choice. Like on the pitch, in football everything is unpredictable. The decision is indeed into the hands of the former Salzburg player but his agent’s restlessness is directing towards the next step of his developing incredible career.
