Real Madrid News
Erling Haaland’s father reveals reason behind striker not joining Real Madrid
Erling Haaland was one of the most sought-after players in the market this past summer. From Barcelona to Chelsea to Manchester United to PSG, every big club across Europe were keen on landing the Norwegian international.
Even Real Madrid were drawn into the transfer battle for the ace striker. But, the 22-year-old opted to snub the reigning champions of Spain and Europe, as well as the other interested parties in order to secure a move to Premier League champions Manchester City.
Having joined Pep Guardiola’s juggernaut, Haaland is tearing apart teams in the Premier League and has already scored ten goals in just six games, that includes two stunning hat-tricks.
As mentioned earlier, Haaland was faced with a tough decision in the summer as he had a host of top clubs chasing after him.
Now, his father and former Manchester City star Alf-Inge Haaland has shed some light on the striker’s choice to move to the Etihad Stadium instead of Real Madrid.
Talking in ‘Haaland: The Choice’ documentary for ViaPlay (h/t Sport.fr), Alf-Inge Haaland points to the presence of Karim Benzema and Real Madrid’s pursuit of Kylian Mbappe as the reason behind his son not joining forces with Los Blancos.
“We had established a first criterion which was: ‘who needs a No. 9?’ Manchester City had 10/10 at this level, it was the perfect option,” he said.
“Real, we gave him more of a 5 or a 6 out of 10 because there is the way Karim Benzema currently plays. And we wondered if they were also going to sign Mbappe,” he further added.
Real Madrid not only missed out on Haaland, but they even failed to bring in Mbappe as well, as he performed a last-minute swerve and signed a new contract with Paris Saint-Germain.
Carlo Ancelotti & co. have entered the new season with Karim Benzema as their only natural striker, given that Mariano Diaz is out of favour. They have started well, winning five in five across all competitions, with the latest win coming against Real Betis on Saturday.
As for their search for a striker, while Haaland remains on Real Madrid’s radar for the future, they are also looking at other potential options, including Brazilian wonderkid Endrick.
There is no secret that Real Madrid might consider a move for a new striker in the coming summer. With Karim Benzema slowly nearing the end of his career, the club are looking for a viable alternative ahead of the new season.
Carlo Ancelotti has been left impressed by the performances of Rodrygo in the centre forward position. But the club could still use the services of a more recognised option in the number nine position.
The Spanish giants are reportedly assessing La Liga for a potential low-cost option. But they are also open to looking through in other leagues, in their bid to add more depth in the attacking department.
To that end, Fabrizio Romano claims Real Madrid are eyeing a swoop for Roberto Firmino. The Liverpool star has become the latest player to be shortlisted by Los Blancos, with his current contract at Liverpool expiring at the end of the season.
Formerly of TSG Hoffenheim, Firmino has a stellar track record of performing in Europe. He has scored 110 goals in 361 competitive matches during his time at Liverpool, winning the Premier League and the Champions League title.
A centre forward by trade, Roberto is known for his tactical flexibility and the ability to shift into wider areas to build up the player.
It makes him an appealing target for Real Madrid, who would prefer a versatile striker in their ranks that can not only provide cover for Benzema but also the likes of Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo.
Real Madrid, though, are yet to hold any discussions with Roberto Firmino just yet. He has just been added to the list of targets and one would expect the Spanish giants to make a move once the season is over and the player becomes a free agent.
