"Haaland will go to Barcelona"

Erling Haaland, a 26-year-old forward from Manchester City, appears in Paul Scholes' forecast as a possible signing for FC Barcelona if he leaves the English club. The former Manchester United player places the Catalan team as his most likely destination amid the uncertainty surrounding City, which has appealed the ruling regarding its financial violations and is still waiting to know the sporting sanction.

Paul Scholes Links Erling Haaland to Barcelona

Scholes discussed Haaland's future during his appearance on the podcast The Good, The Bad & The Football. When asked about the team the Norwegian could play for if Manchester City were relegated due to an administrative sanction, the former midfielder pointed to Barcelona, although he acknowledged he could also picture him in a Real Madrid shirt.

His bet on the Catalan team does not stem from a confirmed negotiation or a known offer. It is a personal prediction about the forward's next destination, conditioned by a scenario that could alter Manchester City's sports planning.

Real Madrid also appears in that analysis, but Scholes believes Barcelona would be the final option. For now, there is no evidence of an agreement between Haaland and the Catalan club or talks that would suggest an operation is underway.

🚨 Paul Scholes on where Erling Haaland could go if Manchester City are relegated: "Barcelona." "Although he looks like a Real Madrid player... I can easily picture him wearing a Real Madrid shirt, but he'll go to Barça!" https://t.co/35atPAXApE

— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) November 11, 2026

Manchester City Awaits Resolution of Its Financial Case

Haaland's future is linked, at least in the realm of speculation, to the institutional situation of Manchester City. On September 29, 2026, the Premier League confirmed that an independent commission had found serious breaches of the financial rules of the championship over several seasons, in addition to most of the charges related to the club's lack of cooperation.

City filed an appeal on October 1 against the ruling. The sanction is still pending and could include sporting measures, although administrative relegation has not been confirmed. Therefore, any departure of Haaland linked to that possibility remains a hypothesis, not a consequence of a definitive decision.

The Norwegian's contract adds another difficulty to a potential operation. Haaland renewed in January 2025 until June 2034, with a long-term commitment and without a release clause, according to the information provided. An early departure would therefore require a contractual scenario different from that of a player nearing free agency.

Barcelona would need to assess the economic conditions of an acquisition of that caliber. Without a formal offer, a verified negotiation, or a known transfer fee, it is not possible to determine how much the operation would cost or if the Catalan club would be able to undertake it.

Nicky Butt Also Points to Haaland’s Father's Role

In the same podcast, Nicky Butt, a former teammate of Scholes at Manchester United, focused on Alf-Inge Haaland, father and a regular figure in the forward's professional environment. Butt expressed his doubts about whether the family had not already considered alternatives for the footballer's future.

His remarks fuel speculation about a possible exit but do not confirm that there is an agreed destination or that contacts with another team have begun. The length of the contract and the absence of a release clause make any verifiable information about the conditions of a potential departure particularly relevant.

Erling Haaland will remain tied to Manchester City until 2034 unless a contractual change or a negotiated exit occurs. The next relevant step will be to know the outcome of the financial proceedings and the sanctions that could be imposed on the English club. Until then, the Barcelona option advocated by Scholes remains a prediction, without a confirmed operation or established market deadlines.