Manchester City star Erling Haaland on Tuesday opted for a Barcelona club icon as his pick for the greatest player of all time.
The individual in question? Lionel Messi.
The name of frontman Haaland, of course, has taken its place front and centre in the headlines in Catalunya’s capital over the course of the last week.
This comes after the Norwegian’s representatives were spotted in the city, alongside Barcelona sporting director Deco.
It was subsequently revealed that the parties had sat down for a formal discussion, with the subject of Haaland’s future in Manchester having been brought to the fore by Deco.
Despite the ongoing financial difficulties being endured by the Camp Nou brass, it has in turn been widely reported that Blaugrana president Joan Laporta has earmarked the 23-year-old as his ‘dream’ signing.
It will therefore no doubt come as a source of interest to those of a Barca persuasion to hear that, on Tuesday, Haaland revealed his admiration for a legendary figure in Catalunya.
Speaking in a press conference ahead of Man City’s Champions League meeting with Copenhagen tomorrow night, striker Haaland was drawn on the prospect of emerging triumphant in European football’s elite club competition for the 2nd time in his career.
And the former Borussia Dortmund man made use of the opportunity to label Blaugrana hero Lionel Messi as ‘the best that has ever played’:
“I’ve won it all but I’m only 23, but I want to win it all again. Messi is the best that has ever played, so maybe he has to retire for someone else to be regarded as the best.”
Conor Laird | GSFN
