Erling Haaland: Real Madrid unphased by Barcelona links
While Barcelona may have intentions of entering the battle for Erling Haaland, Real Madrid remain confident they already have the operation tied up for the young Norweigan.
Real Madrid have been keeping one eye on the goings-on at Barcelona with the presidential elections around the corner on 24 January. And the words of Josep Maria Minguella, Emili Rousaud's advisor and future sporting vice-president of FC Barcelona if the Els Millors group wins the candidacy, will certainly have raised a few eyebrows at the Bernabéu on Wednesday.
Much to the surprise of many, Minguella suggested that Erling Haaland would play at Barcelona next season if Rousaud wins the elections on 24 January. This, of course, is the same Erling Haaland that is a major pillar in Madrid president Florentino Pérez's roadmap for the short-term future.
Minguella also hinted that there is an agreement already in place with the player's agent, Mino Raiola, and with his current club, Borussia Dortmund, regarding the signing of the 20-year-old Norwegian striker. Rousaud is not the only candidate that has been linked with Haaland; so too has other presidential hopeful Joan Laporta due to his close relationship with Raiola.
Real Madrid not worried about Barcelona-Haaland talk
At Real Madrid, however, the top brass remain calm as they have been working on the Haaland operation for months and know the young forward’s situation perfectly well.
First of all, it will be impossible to get Dortmund to leave him go for a reasonable price before the summer of 2022 – the time at which Dortmund and Raiola have agreed that the club will facilitate his departure, as per the verbal pact between the parties.
This pact was one of Raiola’s conditions to allowing Dortmund to sign Haaland for such a reasonable price: €20 million plus €23 million in commissions to his representatives – Raiola (€15m) and his father Alf-Inge Haaland (€8m).
Haaland wants to play for Real Madrid
Madrid also know well that Haaland's desire is to wear the white jersey in the near future. As he has already said himself on several occasions, he grew up watching the goals of his great idol Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid. There is another factor of course, which is his compatriot and good friend Martin Odegaard, who has been quietly trying to entice him to the Bernabéu when the pair meet up for international duty for Norway.
Madrid already has the Haaland operation very well tied up for 2022, which, coincidentally, is when Karin Benzema’s contract runs out. With Haaland, Madrid will have the Frenchman’s massive boots easily filled.
His agent, Raiola doesn’t have much contact with Peréz due to what happened in the past over Pogba. But the Italian agent does, however, enjoy a close relationship with general director José Ángel Sánchez and is eager to start working Madrid again.
What is also worth noting is the fact that Dortmund CEO Hans-Joaquim Watzke is an admirer of Peréz in the business world and always positions himself on the side of Madrid on ECA or UEFA-related matters. What’s more, Watzke will also be eternally grateful to Madrid for allowing Dortmund to sign Achraf Hakimi (now at Inter) and Brazilian teenager Reinier. All things considered, Real Madrid have Erling Haaland signed and sealed.