Barcelona president Joan Laporta has backed club coach Xavi Hernandez despite his failed attempts to convince Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland to move to the Camp Nou this summer.
Earlier this month, Xavi headed a club delegation flying out to Germany to hold a meeting with striker Haaland – as they attempt to trump rival clubs to the striker’s signature. The Catalan club held a meeting with the player's agent Mino Raiola in December while Dortmund recently confirmed that Real Madrid are among those who are interested in signing the Norwegian.
The Norwegian striker fuelled speculation of a transfer to La Liga in January as he confirmed that he would like to play in Spain during his career. Barca president Laporta's reported confidence in signing the striker has sparked off what has been described as a 'war' between the club and El Clasico rivals Madrid.
Haaland has a reported £63million release clause that kicks in at Dortmund this summer – which has put a series of top European clubs on alert. The two La Liga giants are among those who have been strongest linked for the Norwegian, with Manchester City also among the clubs monitoring his situation.
Xavi expressed his confidence in a deal to sign Haaland to reporters earlier in March: "It always seems like a good time to sign for Barça. It is the best club in the world. There is no footballer who has said no to Barça since I have come here."
It follows on from previous comments from Xavi, when asked about his meeting with Haaland: "I cannot give details. The only thing I can say about Haaland is that we are working for Barça for the present and future. If we announce something, you will know."
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However, Laporta has explained on Catalan radio station RAC1 that Haaland has not expressed an interest to move to the Blaugrana this summer. He was asked about the possibility of the Norwegian or Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe moving to the Camp Nou, but his response was one of pessimism.
The Barca chief said: "I would stay with whoever wants to play at Barça, with whomever expressed their desire to come. Today neither Haaland nor (Kylian) Mbappe have expressed a desire to do so. And they would have to adapt to the economic reality, or I would see any move as being very difficult. In the economic conditions that are being discussed, we are not able to sign either. I have not met the Haalands in Marbella."
There is little question over the 21-year-old's world-class status, as he has netted 82 goals in just 79 appearances for Dortmund since his switch from Red Bull Salzburg two years ago – including 23 times in 23 outings this campaign.
Haaland has continued to break multiple goal-scoring records, netting 27 goals in 25 matches across his games in European competitions. In the 2020–21 campaign, Haaland was integral in Dortmund's DFB-Pokal win, won the Bundesliga Player of the Season award and finished as the top scorer of the Champions League.
Despite his pessimism on a move for Haaland, Laporta was keen to express his absolute support for Xavi – even if results on the pitch were to take a downturn. "He will be there for as long as he wants. I would ensure that he will be the coach for my mandate. He is the usual Xavi, he has matured."
Laporta continued: “Xavi is doing fantastically. We already play as he wanted, we make chances, we have aims. At first he suffered, because what he wanted didn't come out in the results. But everything has a process. Xavi has returned to the origins of our game, he has convinced the players, and there are the players we have signed for him.”
