Barcelona and Real Madrid have been warned they will need a magic trick this summer to get Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland in their books, and La Liga president Javier Tebas doubts the big money deals will be made.
With a magic trick
It has been speculated that the ambitious outfits at Camp Nou and Santiago Bernabeu will be looking to dive into the next recruiting market for two of the most exciting strikers in world football. Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund will be reluctant sellers, however, and even those with the deepest pockets are struggling to find the funds needed to take such steps during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
When asked if Barca and Real could land Mbappe and Haaland, Tebas said, “How, with a magic trick? Barca has to nominate many players in order to bring a star, and Madrid cannot do that either. Apart from clubs owned by nation states, everyone has financial problems. We cannot say that Mbappe or Haaland will come, that Lionel Messi will stay – it’s impossible. The crisis is global. We try to keep the La Liga brand above the players and even the clubs. I would like to have Messi, Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Haaland, Mbappe, but that is not possible.”
Tebas would be happy to see Kylian and Erling in La Liga
In trying to figure out how two more global superstars can be added to the ranks of La Liga, Tebas is keen to have one still in place in Spain. Questions continue to be asked about Messi’s future in Barcelona as his contract comes down to a free agency. Fresh terms have been discussed, although the Argentine waits until the end of the season before deciding on his future, and Tebas believes the six-time Ballon d’Or winner should avoid tarnishing his legacy by leaving Camp Nou. He added to the merciful South American: If I were Messi’s counselor, I would tell him, ‘stay at Barca. I want Messi to stay. He is the best player in history. If you think about his last years of football, he should continue to be associated with the Barcelona brand. He started in Barcelona and I think he should continue in Barca. If I were his advisor, I would tell him that he should do his best to stay in Barca.