Real Madrid News
Haaland’s agent coy about Real Madrid-specific release clause in Man City contract
After his recent Ballon d’Or award last week, there is little doubt that Karim Benzema is still amongst the greatest strikers in the world. The Frenchman has time and time again proved his quality and less Real Madrid’s forward line by example.
However, when one considers his age, the situation becomes concerning. Already at the dusk of his career, one would not expect the striker to have more than two more years in his tank. With Real Madrid not having any direct backup option, they must sign a new striker of calibre in the coming transfer windows.
Real Madrid’s interest in Erling Haaland is no new topic, and the ties between the two parties seem to have reignited in recent days.
With the Norweigan striker destroying records for fun in the Premier League, Los Blancos are ready to swoop his services at any cost. There have been reports of a release clause existing in Haaland’s Manchester City contract worth €200 million that will come into force in 2024.
Furthermore, some sections of the media have claimed that the clause is particularly favourable for Real Madrid.
In view of the same, Haaland’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, was asked if the striker’s contract with Manchester City had a special release clause for Real Madrid in 2024 by journalist Gianluca Di Marzio in an interview. Responding, she said (h/t AS):
“The good & bad about being a lawyer is that you know what you cannot say.”
While the response does not reveal anything for certain, his reluctance to give a clear negative as a response indicates the possibility of such a clause existing. If so, it would mean that Real Madrid are well placed to secure Haaland’s services in the coming years.
Further elaborating on Haaland, Pimenta backed him to become the first player to break the €1 billion market value, saying:
“He will be the first footballer to be transferred for around €1 billion. He is already worth that amount due to his football value, his image value, his sponsor value and his impact on the market.”
The 22-year-old has scored 15 goals and provided three assists in just 10 league appearances for Manchester City so far this season. Quite simply put, he is a generational talent that Los Blancos cannot afford to miss out on.
Dani Ceballos is one of the players who has Real Madrid on the fence after his recent resurgence. The club appeared certain to part ways with the player during the commencement of the 2022/23 season but no longer find the decision as straightforward.
According to reports from MARCA, Real Madrid are in no hurry to renew Ceballos’ contract. Though his deal runs out in the summer, the Merengues prefer to focus fully on the competitions they are alive in instead of entering auctions for his renewal.
Ceballos has given Los Blancos the signal that his priority is to stay and is waiting for an offer from the board. However, nobody from the administration has contacted him yet.
Sniffing a moment of opportunity, Atletico Madrid have entered the scene and conveyed their interest in signing the midfield star. Los Rojiblancos have already called his entourage twice in recent weeks and a move away from the Bernabeu cannot be ruled out.
At 26 years of age, the Spaniard wishes for regular starts and playing time. It would be difficult for such demands to be met in Real Madrid owing to the sheer number of young prodigies rising in the middle of Los Blancos.
Come next season, Ceballos could be lost in the mix of Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde and veterans like Toni Kroos, while Jude Bellingham could also arrive.
Ceballos has made 19 appearances for the defending champions in La Liga this season, providing one assist in that duration. At just 10 starts and 44 minutes averaged per game, however, his role is clearly centred around the bench.
Moving to Atletico Madrid could thus work well in his favour for he is almost guaranteed playing time in Simeone’s system which is in dire need of a quality attacking midfielder.
The player is currently on international duty with La Roja for the Euro qualifiers. In the team’s opener against Norway, he came on at the hour mark and made a strong cameo with three key passes and a big chance created.
