Barcelona chief insists "Barca are back" when asked about Erling Haaland move

Barcelona president Joan Laporta hinted the Catalans are back in the race to sign Erling Haaland, after the Blaugrana chief said “Barca are back”

The La Liga giants had amassed a crippling debt believed to have been around £1.15billion, before falling foul of the Spanish division’s strict wage cap legislations.

So much was their overspending in player wages, they were forced to say goodbye to Lionel Messi, despite the Argentine agreeing to take a 50% pay-cut to remain at the Nou Camp.

However, six months after the five-time Ballon d’Or winner issued a tearful farewell to the club on his way to Paris Saint-Germain, the Catalans completed the £55m signing of Ferran Torres from Manchester City.

And it could be about to get even better, as Laporta confirmed Barcelona’s running in the race for Haaland’s signature.

“Everybody in the world should get ready, as we are back as big players in the market. Barça are back,” an optimistic Laporta said, via Fabrizio Romano.

It is a sensational development from the Catalonian giants who have experienced quite the nosedive this season.

Xavi’s men are languishing in fifth position, and currently trail league leaders Real Madrid by an enormous 15 points.

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They also failed to qualify for the Champions League knockout-stages for the first time in seventeen years, after Bayern Munich and Benfica both finished above them.

While a pursuit for Haaland may very well be too optimistic for the struggling Catalans, it is a real statement of intent from Laporta.

Haaland is one of the hottest properties in the football world today having hammered home an astonishing 13 goals and five assists in 11 Bundesliga appearances.

A transfer tug of war is expected to be on the cards this summer, when the imperious Norwegian’s purported £68m release clause becomes active.

Barcelona are one of many European giants who have been linked with a move for the sensational 21-year-old, who will likely come with a wage packet believed to be around £500,000, according to ESPN.

This would likely be too far of a stretch for Barcelona, who still need to shift some players from their hefty salary bill, before they can register Torres, despite the fact he has only just arrived at the Nou Camp.

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