Real Madrid’s interest in Erling Haaland has not waned, despite the striker’s current contract with Manchester City. Multiple sources have dismissed reports of Haaland joining Madrid this summer, but the club is still keeping an eye on the striker in case the scenario in the short to medium term allows them to make a move for him. Madrid’s scouts first started monitoring Haaland when he played for Red Bull Salzburg in 2019-2020. The striker scored 29 goals in 27 appearances for the Austrian side, but Real thought it was too early to make a move for him. Haaland agreed to join Borussia Dortmund instead in December 2019, helped by his agent, the late Mino Raiola.
Madrid did not forget about Haaland. In July 2021, when rumours circulated that Chelsea were interested in signing the striker, one high-ranking figure at Real called up a similarly influential counterpart at Dortmund to see if that was true. They confirmed the English club’s interest but added that Haaland would not be sold for any amount that summer. City’s strategy for Haaland was led by chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Txiki Begiristain. They managed to win the trust of Alf-Inge, Raiola, and, when the agent fell ill and died in April 2022, his replacement Rafaela Pimenta. It was Begiristain who pointed out to Haaland and his family the risks of him joining Madrid given Benzema’s fine performances and Mbappe’s expected signing. So Haaland chose City and his signing was completed in June last year.
Madrid believe they have been overtaken by Premier League clubs and Paris Saint-Germain in terms of financial power. But they are still keen to sign the world’s best players and, until this season, they considered three to be at the very top: Mbappe, Haaland and Benzema. Vinicius Junior has now joined that select group after a campaign in which he has scored 23 goals and provided 21 assists in all competitions. The two members of that list who are not at Madrid are still the subject of serious interest. The scenes with Haaland Sr last Tuesday do not appear to have changed things. Asked about the incident with Alf-Inge, Madrid preferred not to comment to protect relations and described it as media gossip. Similarly, Haaland’s entourage said that anything related to the striker is considered newsworthy these days.
Keywords: Real Madrid, Erling Haaland, Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, Mino Raiola, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Paris Saint-Germain, Premier League, Santiago Bernabeu.
