The long-held saga is over. Real Madrid did not sign Erling Haaland. Manchester City did, and the Norwegian will stay there for five years. Real Madrid could’ve signed him, but City just wanted him more than Real did.
Haaland is a fantastic player, and will be one of the best players in the world for years to come. You can’t tell me that he wouldn’t have helped Real. The club may regret their actions a couple of years from now, but the main reason Real Madrid didn’t go for Haaland is perhaps justified.
According to multiple reports, from Fabrizio Romano to Mario Cortegana, everyone talked about one person, and one person only. Karim Benzema.
Karim Benzema’s form was a big reason why Erling Haaland to Real Madrid never materialized
Fabrizio Romano (on his podcast) said that even though Haaland was not threatened by Mbappe “maybe” joining Real Madrid, he still had to consider the form that Karim Benzema has been in this season.
Ramon Alvarez said that Real Madrid could not promise Erling Haaland a major role in the team because of Kylian Mbappe’s eventual arrival and Karim’s form.
There are countless other reports, such as Jose Felix Diaz, who also mentions something similar.
But, yes, at the end of last season you could’ve said that Benzema has one more great season in him, and maybe after he hits 35, he will start declining. Well, you can’t say that now, after the best season of his career, can you? 48 goals and 14 assists, even if his form drops off a little bit next season, he’d still be on course to having a great season. You can’t just put him and Haaland in the same team, hoping it’ll work.
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Maybe in a few years, it will be possible, but maybe the window of opportunity has already passed. We wouldn’t know until we’re a few years into the future. Haaland might join Real eventually, after all. He might not. No one knows.