Every football club not named Manchester City mourned as the Citizens landed perhaps the most coveted striker of this generation in Erling Haaland on a transfer from Borussia Dortmund. Barcelona, who had long been hoping to lure Haaland to Camp Nou, failed to make much noise in the sweepstakes for the Norwegian starlet, ultimately helpless as they watched him sign for the Premier League giants. Via Fabrizio Romano, Xavi has now opened up on why Barcelona failed to make a bigger push for Haaland, and he was straight up with his response, indicating the finances were simply not there for the Catalan side.

Landing the Norwegian would have been a major coup for Barcelona, as he could be their striker for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, the club’s finances are not in great shape due to careless spending in the transfer market in recent years, which ultimately cost them any chance at making a real run for Haaland.

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Fortunately, Haaland didn’t end up signing for Real Madrid, another club he was heavily linked to throughout his stay at Dortmund. Still, it’s disappointing for Barcelona, frequently touted as one of the richest clubs in world football, to be so clearly priced out of a star player’s market.

Haaland is set to dominate the Premier League, joining Pep Guardiola in Manchester where he’ll team up with sensational playmakers like Kevin De Bruyne. Considering Haaland’s knack for finding the back of the net, having prime playmakers surrounding him could help him become the world’s best striker.

Barcelona will surely be keeping tabs on him throughout his tenure in the Premier League, but as Xavi stated bluntly, there was simply no way for the club to make the finances work in order to bring him to Barca.