Haaland must choose between a rewarding career or wealth

At 21, Erling Haaland is facing one of the biggest decisions of his professional career. At some point in the not too distant future, he will need to decide between a successful playing career or becoming extremely wealthy. Europe's top clubs have started jostling to sign the giant Norwegian striker, who fired 29 goals in just 27 games for Salzburg, 68 in 67 games for Borussia Dortmund and 12 in 15 appearances at international level with Norway. Astonishing figures for a player who many believe will be the game's most prolific goal scorer during the next decade.

Europe's big guns queue up for Haaland

Real Madrid, one of the clubs who are keen on signing him, are in no doubts about that. Haaland knows that Madrid is also a club where it would be easier for him to achieve sporting success. The problem is that Florentino would never be able to match the kind of contract which clubs like PSG and Manchester City could offer him. Both clubs are expected to be among those pushing to sign the striker on a multi-million euro deal next summer with Mino Raiola and the player's father both rubbing their hands at the prospect of securing a highly lucrative contract. Haaland has yet to make a firm decision regarding, although he did make some comments about his future back in June.

"I have been taking a couple of steps over the past few years and I think they have been good steps for me, personally, to get out of my comfort zone and to develop even more," he told The Telegraph.."I want to challenge myself in everything that I do. It's something I think about. It's also for everyone to always do this. People can sometimes be too comfortable staying in their 'zone' so I think it’s important to get out of that". From his comfort zone, Haaland will soon have to decide between the satisfaction of an exorbitant contract which Raiola will surely push for (Madrid will never pay any player a salary of 50 million euros which the agent has asked PSG for); alternatively, he could be brave and not be influenced by his agent and father, consider where he might have the best chance of winning the most silverware and tell Madrid that he wants to further his career alongside Mbappé, Benzema, Vinicius, Modric, Kroos and Alaba - as well as some of the young upcoming players like Fede Valverde, Camavinga and Rodrygo.

Madrid's prudent salary policy

Even with their best efforts Madrid would never be able to equal the kind of figures which PSG are able to offer because the Spanish club have a salary cap policy, unlike the Parisiennes, who seeming have no limits on what they pay their players. Madrid have offered Mbappé a salary which is slightly more than what he currently earns in Paris (€22M) and have meticulously studied the savings they will make when Bale, Marcelo and Isco are off the payroll next summer.

It's a simple equation and Haaland has seven months to decide what he will do next. He must choose between a rewarding career or wealth. The whole of Europe awaits his decision...