Haaland picks Barcelona over Real Madrid as he plans Man City exit

Erling Haaland, the 26‑year‑old Norwegian striker, has signalled his intention to leave Manchester City at the end of the season and says he would rather join Barcelona than Real Madrid, reports claim. The forward has been linked with both Spanish giants throughout the campaign.

Citizens’ recent trophy drought

The Citizens have not lifted the Premier League for two seasons, although they secured both the FA Cup and the League Cup in Pep Guardiola’s final campaign at the Etihad. Their cup success came in the same season Guardiola departed.

Guardiola’s departure, combined with Liverpool and Arsenal winning the last two Premier League titles, has sparked rumours that Haaland may be dissatisfied with City’s project. City’s recent form has seen them finish outside the top two, intensifying speculation.

The striker has repeatedly stressed his desire to win league titles and compete for the Champions League, ambitions City have struggled to fulfil for a couple of years. Haaland’s ambition aligns with the expectations of a club accustomed to domestic dominance.

Barcelona’s active pursuit

Spanish reports claim Haaland intends to leave, with Barcelona emissaries already meeting his agent in London and Paris to reach an agreement as soon as possible. The meetings suggest Barcelona are moving quickly to secure the striker before the summer window closes.

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After failing to sign Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, Barcelona view Haaland as a particularly attractive solution to their centre‑forward shortage. Barcelona’s current attack has struggled for consistency, making the prospect of a prolific forward appealing.

The report adds that Haaland is unhappy with the project at the Etihad and disappointed by recent signings, starting with Enzo Maresca’s arrival to replace Pep Guardiola. He also criticised the club’s broader transfer strategy, feeling it diverges from his own aspirations.

Speculation about a move to Real Madrid has been dismissed by the 26‑year‑old, who cites the presence of Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior as obstacles and says he prefers joining Hans‑Dieter Flick’s Barcelona side. Flick’s tactical setup, he believes, would suit his playing style better than Madrid’s.

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Haaland’s goal‑scoring ambitions

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes Haaland will finish his career with 1,000 goals, noting that 167 of his 322 club goals have come at Manchester City. “I just can’t see Haaland not scoring 1,000 goals,” he said.

Arsenal legend Paul Merson argues that reaching the milestone would require Haaland to remain at a top club such as Manchester City for many more years, warning that age and injuries could diminish his output. “He would have to play at the top with top, top players for a long, long time,” Merson added.