French media have revealed a surprising story about Paris Saint-Germain’s attempt to sign Norwegian star Erling Haaland. However, the arrival of Lionel Messi changed everything and disrupted the club’s plans.
PSG are preparing for a big Champions League clash against Manchester City on Wednesday. This match will bring Paris face-to-face with Haaland, the player who came close to joining the French club but ended up elsewhere due to unexpected circumstances.
The 24-year-old striker is now one of the world’s best, thanks to his incredible strength, speed, and goal-scoring ability. Nicknamed “the cyborg,” Erling is a key player for Manchester City, leading them to win the Champions League in his first season.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Plans for Haaland
According to “Le Parisien,” PSG’s interest in Erling began in 2020 when the Norwegian striker impressed everyone with his performances for Borussia Dortmund. At the time, Kylian Mbappé’s future at PSG was uncertain, with Real Madrid showing strong interest in signing him.
PSG started planning for Mbappé’s possible departure by targeting Haaland as a replacement. Club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi led the negotiations personally, meeting with Haaland’s father, Alfie, in Doha. Former sporting director Leonardo also contacted Haaland’s agent, Mino Raiola, to push the deal forward.
The talks started well, and everything looked promising for PSG to secure the Norwegian star.
Lionel Messi’s Arrival Changes the Plans
In the summer of 2021, things changed completely when PSG signed Lionel Messi from Barcelona. Messi’s unexpected move took up a significant portion of the club’s financial resources. His arrival also convinced the club to keep Mbappé and abandon any plans to sell him.
These developments left PSG unable to afford Haaland’s transfer. Erling eventually joined Manchester City in 2022, becoming a star in the English Premier League.
Haaland Returns to Paris as a Rival
Now, Erling is returning to the spotlight in Paris, but as an opponent with Manchester City in the Champions League. This match will remind PSG fans of how close their club came to signing the Norwegian striker, and how different things could have been if the deal had gone through.
