90min

Xavi makes clear Barcelona's stance on signing Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland

  • Mbappe out of contract at PSG this summer and able to negotiate a move now
  • Haaland linked with Barcelona and Real Madrid after huge success at Manchester City
  • Barcelona's financial struggles well documented after years of lavish spending

By Toby Cudworth

Mbappe & Haaland are never far away from the transfer headlines
Mbappe & Haaland are never far away from the transfer headlines / Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio | Michael Regan/Getty Images
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Xavi has made it clear Barcelona simply cannot think about signing the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.

The Catalan giants' financial constraints have been well documented in recent years, though they have still splashed vast sums of money on the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, Raphinha and Ferran Torres among others.

Loan deals have helped Barca fill out their squad for the 2023/24 season, with Xavi's side looking to defend the La Liga title they won at a canter last season. The club hope to sign Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix permanently this summer, yet it's not a foregone conclusion that the Portuguese duo will be able to stay.

Vitor Roque has arrived from Athletico Paranaense to add more firepower to Xavi's attack, but the club continue to be linked with big-name signings despite their monetary troubles.

Speaking to the press ahead of Barcelona's 2-1 win over Las Palmas in La Liga, Xavi reiterated the club's delicate finances will prevent them from going after some of football's most sought-after players.

"Erling Haaland or Mbappe? We can't think of Haaland or Mbappe. Barcelona can't afford these players now, unfortunately," he told reporters. "I'm happy with the players I have.

"We are not in a privileged situation economically to do that," the Spaniard added. "I am left with the players I have, and with those players we have to win. We have to win titles and we have to play well because the bar is very high."

Vitor Roque, Xavi Hernandez
Vitor Roque came on to make his Barcelona debut against Las Palmas / Soccrates Images/GettyImages

Earlier in the week, Haaland had been named by Barcelona midfielder Pedri as the player he'd like to see succeed Lewandowski as the club's long-term number nine - the veteran Pole having come in for criticism in recent months after scoring just two goals since the end of September.

But if Xavi's comments are anything to go by, Roque may be the player turned to as Barca look to close the gap on Real Madrid and Girona at the top of the table - the legendary midfielder admitting that benching somebody like Lewandowski "has already happened" and that he "cannot treat one footballer differently than another, otherwise the group will not work well."

He also demanded that Barcelona be shown respect after the late win over Las Palmas, saying: "We won at the last moment with a penalty. We have arguments [to win La Liga]. The first is that we are the reigning champions. Respect for the reigning champion."

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