The chances are good that Erling Braut Haaland will one day sign for Real Madrid.
It could very well happen. Right now, it seems strange that Erling Braut Haaland would leave Manchester City, who faced Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday. He earns well, scores goals, and wins titles.
But over the years, a mountain of quotes, reports, and theories have built up supporting a potential move to Real Madrid. Here are four reasons why Haaland might end up in Spain’s capital, according to NRK.
“You never know”
The first reason is a quote from Haaland himself. Five weeks ago, Haaland held a press conference where he could have squashed rumors of a move to Real Madrid.
Even though Real Madrid never publicly discloses interest in players, intentions leak out in the two Madrid-based sports newspapers, Diario AS and Marca, which have been publishing front pages about Haaland since 2019.
Even when City signed Haaland in 2022, the newspapers continued to talk about “Operation Haaland,” where Real Madrid eventually will secure the man from Norway.
At the press conference, Haaland was asked about his future and the rumors surrounding Real Madrid. Haaland clearly stated that he was very happy at City. But then he added: “You never know what the future will bring.”
A typical response from players who want to keep their options open.
Reminds of Ronaldo
The second reason is a quote from his father and advisor, Alfie Haaland. He discussed his son’s future in a documentary made by Viaplay in 2022, just before his son signed for City.
“I think Erling wants to test himself in all leagues. And how many years can you be in each league? You can be in three-four years, max three maybe. He has two and a half years in Germany, and then you’re supposed to be two and a half years in another club… England, Spain, Italy, France, right?” he said.
“It’s not certain it will be like that, but I think he wants to test himself in the big leagues. I absolutely believe that.”
The quotes do not give the impression of a guy who will stay at City forever. Haaland has moved on from his last three clubs – Molde, Salzburg, Dortmund – within three years.
And while City usually manages to keep their stars, none of them have been as sought after as Haaland. Even though Haaland was born in England and has a father who played for City, he is not tied to the club in the same way as Lionel Messi and Barcelona.
Haaland more closely resembles Cristiano Ronaldo, who wanted to conquer more worlds and left Manchester United for Real Madrid.
The Clauses
The third reason is the media writing that Haaland’s dream is Real Madrid. The Athletic is the largest and most resourceful football website and has written several times that Real Madrid is a goal for Haaland.
Last year, they reported that Haaland’s contract had a clause allowing him to leave City this summer, if successful coach Pep Guardiola were to leave. This clause was canceled when Guardiola extended his contract to 2025.
But the clause tells us that Haaland wants to keep the option for a transfer open. The same website claims that several clauses in Haaland’s contract will come into effect over the next few years, without specifying what they involve.
The 2025 Window
The fourth reason is reports from the Spanish press. Both Diario AS and Marca have long claimed that Haaland has a clause allowing him to leave City this summer. Marca writes that there are two clauses: One for 2024 and one for 2025.
Guardiola has denied this, and it’s generally hard to say how seriously to take what Spain’s sports newspapers write. Sometimes they have valuable information from inside the clubs. Other times, they come with thinner arguments.
Diario AS claims to have spoken with sources close to Haaland who mentioned the need to “go to a club like Real Madrid” to increase the chance of winning individual awards. No one has confirmed this report to be true, and it seems unlikely that Haaland thinks this way.
But Diario AS has a point when they mention 2025 as a window for a possible transfer. That summer, Guardiola’s contract expires, and he will have been at City for nine years. Haaland will have been there for three years, which is about in line with what Alfie has said.
And around that time, experts expect a verdict in the case between City and the Premier League, where the league accuses the club of violating more than 100 rules. If City is found guilty, they risk relegation. That would hardly be appealing to Haaland.
