Bellingham urges Haaland: “Come to Real Madrid”

It is already known that Haaland is crazy about seeing himself playing for Real Madrid one day. He likes Spain (he bought a house in Marbella, not too far his parents’ holiday home in Málaga) and was fascinated by Cristiano’s imperial Madrid during the triumphant Champions League years (2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018). Like many people, he watched in amazement when Los Blancos lifted their 14th European crown after a series of epic comebacks against PSG, Chelsea and City (he had signed for Guardiola’s team that summer).

His admiration for Madrid goes back a long way, and now he is getting an even more detailed picture of what life is like at the capital club from what his friend Jude Bellingham tells him. The pair spent two seasons together at Borussia Dortmund (2020 to 2022). During those two years, they cemented a friendship that endures to this day. The Norwegian scored an incredible 70 goals in 71 games during his time with the Ruhr-based outfit. Bellingham meanwhile, who was still just a teenager, scored 10 goals in his 90 games with the Borussers in those two seasons. Last season, without Haaland, he really came to the fore, ending the season with 14 goals, his best figures until he landed at the Bernabéu. In Madrid, he has completely demolished his career best - he is currently on 18 goals in 26 games and we are barely past the midway point of the season.

Bernabéu experience

During the past few months, Jude has repeatedly mentioned to Erling that if he finally decides to sign for Madrid he would be making “the absolutely right move”. The Stourbridge-born ace has told the Norwegian how incredible it is to play in the new Bernabéu, with the new retractable roof which, when closed, amplifies the acoustics of each goal celebrations to a brutal effect. He has also told him about the home fans push the team on big nights - Haaland has witnessed it for himself. In last year’s Champions League semi-finals, he was kept at bay thanks to Rüdiger’s impressive marking.

Of course, Bellingham has also told him about the greatness of the institution, the impressive facilities at Valdebebas, the professional environment, the magnificent coexistence of the squad with top level coaching staff led by Ancelotti, how serious the club is dealing with financial matters and making sure the playing staff have everything they need, the quality of life in the capital, with an incomparable gastronomic and leisure offer... All of this is ringing in Haaland’s ears - and he also knows which, as AS reported, that has a clause written into his contract for clubs outside the Premier League which would demand a transfer fee closer to 100 million than 200 million.

Haaland is under contract at City until June 2027. He joined from Dortmund in July 2022 for a reported €60 million ($62.6m) fee plus an agent’s fee of €40 million ($41.7m) . During his 18 months at the Etihad, the striker has scored 71 goals in 75 appearances in all competitions - including 36 league goals in his first season - a record in the Premier League era.