Barcelona have plans to sign a new striker this summer, with Robert Lewandowski poised to leave at the end of the season. The veteran number nine is unlikely to be offered a new contract before his current deal expires in June, and arrangements are already being made for a replacement to arrive at the Spotify Camp Nou.
Work has been somewhat slowed down in recent weeks due to the ongoing presidential election, which concludes this weekend. Despite this, Victor Font – who is up against Joan Laporta in the vote – is trying to plan ahead for being sworn in, as his team are looking to sign Erling Haaland early as the summer.
As per Sport, Carles Planchart and Xavier Aguilar, who are leading members of Font’s team, held talks with Manchester City officials on Wednesday. Their aim has been to secure a preferential buy option for Erling Haaland, which would give Barcelona the edge in signing the Norwegian superstar when the time comes for him to leave the Premier League giants.
Haaland has also attracted strong interest from Real Madrid, but Font wants to put Barcelona ahead of their Clasico rivals in the race to sign the Man City number nine. He’s aware that a deal anytime soon will be difficult due to the 25-year-old having a contract until 2034, but when he does become available, the Catalans could be ready to pounce.
Haaland move is latest in Font’s big plans for Barcelona
If Font’s team are able to reach an agreement with Man City before this weekend’s vote, it could sway some members to side with him instead of Laporta. This week, he has also promised to bring back Pep Guardiola as the club’s manager when the time comes, and given how big these names are, it could be convincing for some to go for him as Barcelona’s next president.
With what money?
Font is an idiot. City isn’t selling Haaland. Nobody’s falling for that.
I’d voter for font if he could bring Haaland and Pep! A man with a plan.
But . . .
Laporta’s most recent tenure has been marked by controversy and money troubles. The creative financial solutions he and his board developed — they would say as a necessity in response to the situation they inherited from previous president Josep Maria Bartomeu — introduced the word “palancas” (or levers) to world football.
Font is a 53-year-old fintech entrepreneur and ran against Laporte in 2021. Laporte won 54.28% to 29.99%.
During the current campaign, Font has described himself as representing a fresh start for the club, which includes a promise to bring in a new team of sporting directors.
In an interview with “The Athletic in 2024” he characterized Laporta’s palancas policy as a “last-minute improvisation” that would “mortgage our future.” He has also blamed Laporta for the 2021 exit of Lionel Messi, which he said was “one of the biggest mistakes in the club’s modern history”.
One final note on Laporta’s Messi-gate . . .
Font has announced his own ‘Project Messi’ — a plan to build bridges with him. He wants to make Messi an Honorary Club President and offer the now 38-year-old a platform to play at least once again at a full Camp Nou, while also proposing an association of his personal brand with Barca’s.
Messi, who has been with current MLS champions Inter Miami since 2023 and his camp, have not engaged with any of those proposals, but sources consulted by “The Athletic” for this article (who asked to speak anonymously as they did not have permission to comment) said his relationship with Laporta is completely non-existent.
Wow! Laporta calls Font a liar. This is getting interesting.