Erling Haaland hasn’t disrespected Real Madrid
It’s no secret that Real Madrid has been aiming for Mbappe’s signature and planning for it over the past few seasons. This isn’t only because they wanted him to join the club and hoped that he would. It’s because he made it clear that Real Madrid was the club he wanted to go to and even said so after PSG refused to accept a bid last summer. Therefore, his choice to renew with PSG after all of this is a sign of disrespect to the club and Florentino Perez. Even though he possibly will want to join Real Madrid in three years, the events this summer will not and should not be easily forgotten.
On the other hand, we haven’t seen this from Haaland. In fact, we have seen very smart and calculated moves from the striker. After his breakthrough at Red Bull Salzburg, many top clubs wanted him. He opted to join Borussia Dortmund, a top club in their own right. This was smart from him as he guaranteed playing time and growth in a club known for molding some of the greatest players in recent years. After spending time there and consistently reaching great heights, he has now chosen to go to Manchester City.
The reasons for this move are both professional and personal. His father, Alfie Haaland, played for Manchester City for three years between 2000 and 2003 and Erling Haaland wanted to play there too. In addition, honing his craft in the Premier League will only be beneficial to him, especially in a club like Manchester City. He will undoubtedly be a starter under the guidance of Pep Guardiola.
The next step up should be Real Madrid. A different league and the top team in Spain and the history of Europe. If he continues to progress as he has over the past few years, the version of Haaland that Real Madrid get to be Benzema’s replacement will be a joy to watch.