Real Madrid may be changing their summer transfer intentions as they are putting more emphasis on Erling Haaland than Kylian Mbappe.
Would Los Blancos gain more from having a prolific No. 9? This debate emerges in light of Mbappe’s possible transfer from Paris Saint-Germain to Santiago Bernabeu.
Pascal Ferre, the director of France Football, speculated in October 2022 that Mbappe and Haaland would follow Messi and Ronaldo in becoming consistent Ballon d’Or contenders. Ferre highlighted that Messi’s prior accomplishments were a prerequisite for both players to be able to compete at that level.
What’s interesting is Haaland’s recent form with Manchester City, where he won the title with an incredible 52 goals in 53 games played in all competitions. Despite this, Messi’s incredible World Cup performance was the decisive cause in his loss of the Ballon d’Or.
According to recent speculations, Haaland’s representatives think that moving to Santiago Bernabeu would increase his chances of taking home the coveted prize. They contend that if he had been a Real Madrid player, he could have won the 2023 Ballon d’Or, which is in line with Haaland’s objective stated in an earlier interview with GQ Magazine.
The idea is strengthened by the fact that Real Madrid has historically influenced Ballon d’Or voting more than Barcelona, especially during Messi’s tenure at Camp Nou. This raises questions about whether Florentino Perez, the president of Real Madrid, should give Haaland priority over Mbappe in the impending summer move.
There have been rumors of a “internal war” at Bernabeu over Mbappe’s arrival, with powerful club members thinking Victor Osimhen would be a superior summer addition. The transfer scenario gets even more complicated with the upcoming exit of the Napoli striker, whose €120 million release clause makes him a more affordable choice than Mbappe’s astronomical €400 million price tag.
Given these factors, Perez would be better off waiting, particularly if Haaland is sincere about wanting to sign with Real Madrid. Pep Guardiola addressed the issue in a press conference after hearing recent claims that Haaland is not happy in Manchester. At Santiago Bernabeu, the stage is set for a transfer saga that might change the game.
What do you believe Erling Haaland will accomplish more for the Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid as a forward or Kylian Mbappe? Leave a comment below to let us know.
