Huge development as Manchester City’s Soriano and Hugo Viana pictured leaving transfer meeting

Manchester City have held a meeting with Barcelona presidential candidate Víctor Font’s members regarding Erling Haaland.

That’s according to Thursday’s edition of Sport, who leak information about the details of the meeting in Madrid.

On Wednesday, Manchester City suffered a 3-0 Champions League loss to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu. Federico Valverde scored a hat-trick, hugely helping his own status at Real Madrid.

The Premier League side’s CEO, Ferran Soriano, and their sporting director, Hugo Viana, travelled to the Spanish capital for the match. That’s normal, as officials from clubs participating in UEFA matches often meet and dine together.

They don’t normally meet rival clubs, though.

What’s different this time

Barcelona are in the middle of an election campaign for their new president. Current incumbent Joan Laporta called the elections because he wants to consolidate his power at the club.

Victor Font is his main challenger and, as has been the case in Barcelona and Real Madrid presidential elections throughout history, he’s pursuing big transfers to attracts fans’ votes.

Carles Planchart and Xavier Aguilar are members of Font’s team, and the duo met the two Manchester City officials in Madrid’s Four Seasons hotel on Wednesday.

The Norway international was the main topic of conversation between the two parties in Madrid. Securing a path to signing him would obviously bring in the votes.

Last year, Barca president Joan Laporta said “nothing is impossible” when asked about the possibility of bringing Haaland to the Camp Nou.

He is contesting re-election and will come up against a few candidates, including Font. The latter is also aiming to sign the Manchester City striker for Barcelona.

Planchart and Aguilar spoke with Soriano and Viana about a ‘preferential option’ to buy Haaland in the future.

Font’s idea isn’t to sign the 25-year-old in the summer. For now, they only explored the possibility, if Haaland decides to leave the Etihad in the coming years. Soriano and Viana’s responses aren’t mentioned.

Planchart knows the former Borussia Dortmund star well from his time at Manchester City. He was part of Pep Guardiola’s backroom staff at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and the Premier League side between 2007 and 2025.

Journalist Carlos Monfort covered this report for the Catalan newspaper. He took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share a video of Soriano and Viana leaving the hotel from the said meeting. All adding to the hype.

Our take: Manchester City don’t have to panic

The Barcelona election will take place on March 15th. Font needs to be elected as the new president to consider signing Haaland in the future.

Even if Font wins the election, the La Liga winners’ financial situation is unlikely to allow them to sign Haaland in the summer.

The Norwegian’s contract expires in 2034 and Transfermarkt value him at €200m. Barca or any other club will need big money to take him away from Manchester City.

Meanwhile, recent claims from Spain have stated the Catalan club are looking at Atlético Madrid’s Julián Alvarez. Therefore, Guardiola’s side may not have to worry out Barcelona launching a potential attack for Haaland in the next window.

The Norwegian arrived at the Etihad in 2022 and has been the main striker for Guardiola since then.

He’s played 186 matches for Manchester City, managing 153 goals. Of those impressive statistics, 28 assists and 29 goals and seven assists are from this season.

Haaland is represented by Rafaela Pimenta, who currently doesn’t have any other clients at Barcelona. One of the top agents in world football, taking a client from Manchester City to the Camp Nou would be well within her capabilities.

Likely not this summer, though.