Has Erling Haaland agreed to join Real Madrid this summer?

Real Madrid’s pursuit of Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland is reaching the decisive phase. The Bernabéu board remain confident that if the 21-year-old Norway international elects to leave Dortmund this summer they are best placed to secure his signature and sources close to the player have confirmed to AS that his preference is also a move to Madrid, despite interest from Barcelona, Bayern Munich, PSG and several Premier League sides. The question remains, will the move take place this summer, or in 2023?

Real Madrid and Dortmund to come to Haaland agreement

Haaland’s agent, Mino Raiola, has been unwell and has had limited input in the matter of late but in recent days there has been frantic activity among Haaland’s advisors. The player has received a concrete offer that would allow him to remain at Dortmund for another season, while being paid the salary that he will receive at Real Madrid. Several sponsors are involved in the proposal, which is profitable for all parties; Haaland, Dortmund and Madrid, who using this method can stagger the arrival of Kylian Mbappé, who is widely expected to move to the Bernabéu this summer, while also ensuring Haaland does not coincide with Karim Benzema, whose contract expires in June 2023.

The problem is that Haaland and Raiola want the player to move this summer, which has been agreed with Dortmund. Real Madrid, anticipating this situation, have also ensured they are in a position to sign Haaland now. Not only has the player made his intentions clear but relations between Madrid and Dortmund are excellent, and the Bundesliga side has been kept in the loop throughout the entire negotiation. The two clubs had also agreed a pact that would see Haaland remain at the Westfalenstadion for another year, which is still a possibility (Dortmund said as much when asked by AS), but which seems an ever-more remote outcome.

Sources close to the negotiations have confirmed to AS that the definitive meeting to decide Haaland’s future will take place later this month. Given the insistence of Haaland and Raiola on a move this summer, Dortmund require time to find a replacement before the club banks a sizeable transfer fee for the Norwegian, which will make signing another striker considerably more expensive. Sébastian Haller of Ajax and Karim Adeyemi, who plays for the same club Dortmund signed Haaland from, Red Bull Salzburg, are the two options the club are working on.

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Despite Madrid appearing to be at the front of the queue, there could still be a twist in Haaland’s tale. With nothing on paper, it remains unknown if Haaland’s advisors have made similar promises to other clubs behind the scenes. Madrid’s aim is to unite Mbappé and Haaland at the Bernabéu, thusly possessing the two biggest global football stars of the next decade, with all the marketing revenue that represents as well as on-pitch prowess. However, as soon as Dortmund make an announcement on whether Haaland will be put up for sale this summer, a bidding war is likely to ensue.

Barcelona have already held talks with Haaland but the club’s finances will make economic competition difficult, leaving the Liga giants to rely on history and the promise of future succulent contracts to stay in the race. Bayern Munich retain an interest but will not break their financial structure for a single player, while PSG may be in the market for a replacement for Mbappé and are hardly short of cash. In the Premier League, Manchesters United and City will be keen to be kept abreast of developments and whoever takes over at Chelsea following Roman Abramovich’s decision to sell could be in the market to make a huge statement signing.