Haaland or Mbappé: who do Real Madrid want to sign?

It is well known that Madrid’s No. 1 target to reinforce their squad for next season (2024-25) resides in Paris and his name is Kylian Mbappé (he turned 25 last December 20). Since January 1, he has been free to negotiate freely with PSG - powerless to stop talks - with his contract due to expire on June 30. But as AS has already revealed, the wait to see where he goes - at least from Madrid’s point of view - has an expiration date (January 15).

Kylian’s lack of clarity regarding his future, made public with his appearance in front of the media after winning the French Super Cup a few days ago (“I have not yet decided my future”) does not exactly pave the way for a Galáctico who fills the Bernabeu on his official unveling.

Mbappé has a deadline to meet with Los Blancos

If, on that day, the PSG forward, who has been linked with the Premier League over the past 24 hours, has not responded affirmatively to the supposed team of his dreams, Madrid will turn to Erling Haaland (23 years old). The Norwegian giant knows for a fact that both Ancelotti and part of the Bernabeu’s executives would be very happy with his signing. He is seen as the top centre forward of the next decade, guaranteed to score between 40 and 50 goals per season.

Many believed that his contract with Manchester City, which officially ends in 2027, would be watertight in terms of an exit - unless it was at a golden price (no less than €200 million). But as his agent, Rafaela Pimenta, said to AS and later to El Chiringuito, “our clients know that we always give them clear options to choose their future themselves”. Pimenta herself has been in the Bernabéu box at some of Madrid’s Champions League matches this season, invited by Florentino Pérez, with whom she has a magnificent relationship.

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How much can Haaland leave City for?

According to AS, there is a window of hope with Haaland as the price that the Norwegian put in his contract is very reasonable if it is for a foreign club, and more so if it is to go to Real Madrid. The “€200 million and more” valuation price tag on Haaland’s shirt is only relevant to Premier League clubs, a common deterrent among the big English sides to avoid strengthening their direct rivals. But Haaland and his agents have secured an affordable way out in case he wants to leave the shores of England.

Madrid have received good news in this regard and now know that it is a clause they can pay, given that “it is much closer to 100 million than 200″. Despite being a top player, Haaland does not have an otherworldly price.

Things even go one step further: within the staff at the Bernabéu, they point out that “our economy is so solvent that we could even consider signing both Mbappé and Haaland”. Let’s not forget that Haaland bought a house a year ago in Marbella and that he loves to travel to Spain every time he has a couple of days off. If it were up to him, he would sign for Madrid tomorrow.

In any case, all these factors allow us to conclude that from July 2024 the new Bernabéu will enjoy at least one Galáctico presentation, with two of the most expensive players in the world in the equation. Whether with Mbappé or Haaland, the famous image of July 6, 2009 with the Bernabéu packed to capacity to see Cristiano will be repeated 15 years later.

Haaland’s arrival could happen in a year

Haaland knows that if not right now, the door at Madrid will be open to him in the near future. In fact, if Mbappé finally arrives, or even if the Frenchman does not, the signing of the Norwegian giant could be postponed until 2025 given the high expectations for the young Endrick’s arrival. The Brazilian attacker (17) already knows the club and his future teammates after his recent visit to the Bernabéu to watch Madrid in LaLiga.

Ancelotti dreams of having the future Canarinha trio of Rodrygo-Endrick-Vinicius at his command. Endrick was born in Taguatinga on July 21, 2006. The curious thing is that Haaland was born in Leeds on the same day... six years later. If Plan B is activated with the Norwegian, he would arrive at Madrid in 2025 at the age of 25, the same as Mbappé is now.