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4 Reasons why Real Madrid is better off without Erling Haaland

By Manas Pratim Sharma

Dortmund's Norwegian forward Erling Braut Haaland is pictured prior to the friendly fund-raising football match BVB Borussia Dortmund v Dynamo Kyiv in Dortmund, western Germany, on April 26, 2022. - DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by SASCHA SCHUERMANN / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by SASCHA SCHUERMANN/AFP via Getty Images)
Dortmund's Norwegian forward Erling Braut Haaland is pictured prior to the friendly fund-raising football match BVB Borussia Dortmund v Dynamo Kyiv in Dortmund, western Germany, on April 26, 2022. - DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by SASCHA SCHUERMANN / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by SASCHA SCHUERMANN/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Dortmund, Erling Braut Haaland (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP) (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images)
Dortmund, Erling Braut Haaland (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP) (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images) /

Haaland limits tactical flexibility

Although the zeal and hunger might be lacking, Erling Haaland is a superstar of the game. And, he has all the right to make his decision. Moreover, wanting the most sensible deal financially is nothing wrong for a young player. However, there is more to the story. Erling Haaland is a pure center-forward. He’d offer no tactical flexibility. He can only play one role and excels in it.

But, a center-forward for Real Madrid has to do much more than just score a goal. If you take a look at his statistics this season, he is only in the 72nd percentile for shot-creating actions. He wouldn’t provide you with what Karim Benzema does or Raul used to. That lack of tactical flexibility is a considerable red flag for me.

This season especially, Haaland’s playmaking abilities haven’t been up to the mark for me. He only has seven assists and all of them are in the Bundesliga. The key pass average is just around one each game. I am not quite sure if he’d fit into Real Madrid’s style of play. Accommodating him would need to change fundamentals in the way how Real Madrid plays. There would be the need for much more service into the box and rather direct play. The chaos in which Real Madrid thrives will need an elimination.

Haaland is injury-prone

Another major reason to steer clear of the Norwegian hitman is his injury frequency. Real Madrid has had more than its fair share of those with the club’s two highest-earning players. I am sure that would be considered when the board decides to make a move for an attacking addition in the summer. This season alone, Haaland has been injured thrice amounting to an absence of 96 days whilst missing 16 games.

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