Manchester City suffered a 3-0 Champions League last 16 first leg defeat to Real Madrid, which means the club will have quite the obstacle to overcome in next week’s reverse at the Etihad Stadium
Victor Font believes that Barcelona have first dibs on “dream” target Erling Haaland, should Manchester City let their talisman leave the Etihad Stadium any time soon. The presidential candidate for the La Liga giants claims that Barca will have “priority” should Haaland also look to secure a move away from the Sky Blues.
The 53-year-old said: “Haaland is one of the best strikers in the world. We are convinced we will have priority to sign him if he wishes to take on a new challenge.”
He continued: “I am convinced these long contracts are not possible to be fulfilled. This is where we must be attentive to the situation of a player who loves Spain, who made statements about how amazed he was about Camp Nou when he came here.
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“Madrid has also wanted it, so making a movement that protects us and gives us this option, I am convinced that it can happen.”
It comes despite Haaland recently agreeing fresh terms with City which should keep him in Greater Manchester until at least 2034, as well as an understanding that there has been no contact between his camp and the Catalan titans.
The 25-year-old has been a revelation for the Sky Blues since joining from Borussia Dortmund in a £51million move in 2022, racking up 153 goals and 28 assists across all competitions from 186 appearances to date.
The Norwegian has also found the back of the net 22 times in the Premier League this season alone, and has been a key part of Pep Guardiola’s efforts to derail Arsenal from the top of the table as the race for the title heats up once more.
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Just seven points split a first-place Gunners and a second-place City, as the Sky Blues hold a game in hand over their Premier League rivals as well as an all-important six-point clash with Mikel Arteta’s side on home soil come April.
And with Arsenal only having eight games remaining to City’s nine, Arteta’s side will have to be perfect from now until may should they hope to claim their first league title in more than two decades.
It comes as City suffered a blow in their hopes of securing European silverware on Wednesday evening when they suffered a 3-0 loss at the hands of Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the first leg of their round of 16 tie.
Guardiola’s XI failed to respond to Federico Valverde’s first-half hat-trick on the night, as they head to the reverse clash at the Etihad Stadium come Tuesday, March 17 with a hefty deficit to turn around.
However, City will first turn their attention back to the Premier League as they travel to the London Stadium to take on a resurgent West Ham United come Saturday, March 14.
The Hammers have struggled for form this season, sitting 18th in the league standings and caught up in a relegation battle alongside Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United. Unbeaten in four of their last five in the league, however, Guardiola will not see the East London outfit as easy pickings.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.
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