LALIGA
Kylian Mbappé or Erling Haaland? Who do Real Madrid want to sign in 2024?
The PSG attacker and the Manchester City striker are world soccer’s hottest properties and could be within reach for Los Blancos next summer.
It will come as no secret to hear that Real Madrid want - and need - to sign a forward in 2024. While the supremely exciting Endrick will join Los Blancos on 21 July, the Brazilian teenager is a long-term prospect rather than an immediate one and could well begin his time in Spain playing for reserve team Real Madrid Castilla, as happened with compatriots Rodrygo and Vinícius Júnior. With that in mind, the LaLiga giants are expected to do what they didn’t this past summer and go big on an attacker. And only two names can be in the conversation - Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland.
Will Mbappé and Haaland be available in 2024?
Madrid are, of course, long-term admirers of both but are cautious about the likelihood of either moving to the Santiago Bernabéu. Club bosses are adamant they won’t be breaking the bank to take either player to the Spanish capital, a position they have reiterated in public time and again. In any case, it looks as if there is a chance both could be in reach, as long as they are prepared to wait until next summer. But which one is more attainable and which one do they need?
PSG star could move to Real Madrid for free
As has been widely reported, Mbappé contract at Paris Saint-Germain expires on 30 June 2024, which means he could move to Spain on a free transfer (a hefty signing-on fee would appear inevitable, however). As long the France captain doesn’t extend his contract between now and then, the Ligue 1 champions wouldn’t be due a single cent.
Of course, few will need reminding of the longest-running transfer saga of the summer of 2023 (which ended without a transfer), but let’s go over it again anyway. Mbappé informed PSG he had no intention of prolonging his current deal until 2025 but that he wanted to stay for one last season, which resulted in the club leaving him out of a pre-season trip to Japan and threatening not to play him. The 24-year-old stood firm, however, and got his way, and is now back in the team.
Champions League win key to Mbappé contract extension?
The big question is whether he will ultimately be persuaded to extend his contract, which could still happen. Only Mbappé knows the answer. PSG believe winning the Champions League, which has been their only real goal for the last decade, holds the key to convincing their star asset. In any case, no decision is expected to be made until the summer.
Although the attacker has scored eight goals in eight league games and nine times in 10 matches in all competitions in 2023-24, he hasn’t escaped criticism for some of his on-field performances. Particularly following the Champions League thrashing at the hands of Newcastle United, which was the third of four games without a goal.
Haaland’s famous release clause at Manchester City
Real Madrid’s desire to sign Haaland has always been somewhat less intense. In 2022, the Norwegian signed a contract with Manchester City until 2027 and talked about how settled he feels in England since then, adored by the fans and head coach Pep Guardiola.
Los Blancos never considered making a move for Haaland this past summer, aware of his astronomical price tag. However, that will all change in 2024, when a release clause will kick in, allowing teams from outside the Premier League to sign him for between €180 and €200 million ($190.1 to $212 million). That would make him considerably more gettable, especially if the striker were to try to force a move for less (which would, admittedly, be unlikely).
Goals galore in “difficult” times
The 23-year-old has arguably endured the toughest time of his career in recent months, with a six-month Champions League goal drought with City and another failure with Norway, who missed out on direct qualification for Euro 2024. Like Mbappé, though, the fact he has scored nine goals in nine Premier League games so far this season, in a “difficult” period, says it all.
So, with 2024 fast approaching, and both players possibly coming into reach in different ways, Real Madrid will soon have a choice to make. Mbappé or Haaland?