Xavi spotted with Haaland in Munich on Tuesday

According to today's edition of L'Esportiu, Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández together with Joan Laporta's advisor Jordi Cruyff flew out to Munich on Tuesday to hold a meeting with Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker is in Bavaria recovering from a muscle injury. Xavi and Jordi Cruyff managed to speak to the player and explain the club's project. Haaland is mulling over proposals from Manchester City, Real Madrid, PSG and Barça.

Barcelona are fully aware that they don't have the financial clout of the clubs they are up against in the race to sign Haaland, but the club is doing what it can to seduce the player into agreeing to a move to Camp Nou. One of those tactics is by sending Xavi to meet the player and explain to him in person what kind of role he could expect at Barcelona in the medium to long term. It appears that Haaland's preference at the moment is to join Real Madrid - but he is keen to join them this summer rather than wait another year.

Madrid had planned to bring Kylian Mbappé in this summer and sign Haaland in 2023. If Madrid dither, the player could change his mind and weigh up the other offers he has. Laporta has tried to convince Haaland's agent Mino Raiola on numerous occasions that Barça is the best option but at the moment, the player's idea is to sign for Real Madrid in the next transfer window.