Erling Haaland has been tipped to leave Manchester City for Barcelona if the Premier League champions face severe sanctions after being found guilty of breaching financial rules.
City were found guilty of 114 of 115 charges by an independent panel following a long-running case involving alleged financial breaches over a nine-year period from 2009 to 2018. The Premier League has yet to announce what sanctions will be imposed on the club, while Manchester City are preparing to appeal the verdict.
The uncertainty has raised questions about the futures of some of City’s biggest players, including Haaland, particularly if the eventual punishment affects the club’s Premier League or Champions League status. The Norway international has established himself as one of the world’s leading strikers since completing a £51 million move to Manchester City in 2022.
Haaland has scored 169 goals in 205 appearances for the club and is on course to challenge Sergio Aguero’s record as City’s all-time leading goalscorer. He has also been widely viewed as capable of challenging Alan Shearer’s Premier League record of 260 goals if he remains in England long enough.
However, former Spain midfielder Gaizka Mendieta believes Haaland would leave the Etihad Stadium if Manchester City were removed from the Premier League and Champions League as a consequence of the financial case. Mendieta has tipped Barcelona as a potential destination for the 26-year-old striker should that scenario unfold.
City have previously faced speculation that possible sanctions could include a substantial points deduction or relegation, although the Premier League has not yet confirmed the punishment. Manchester City, meanwhile, are challenging the independent panel’s findings, meaning Haaland’s future and any potential move to Barcelona remain speculative.