Why Erling Haaland did not join Real Madrid revealed

Real Madrid’s summer transfer window was seen as a bit of a disappointment by most fans. It does seem like they have brought in two wonderful players in the form of Aurelien Tchouameni and Antonio Rudiger, but many feel that they could have done more, especially after they had been linked with a double move for Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland at one point of time.

Mbappe ultimately decided to stay at Paris Saint-Germain and sign a bumper new deal with them. On the other hand, Haaland ended up joining his father’s former club, Manchester City.

The Norwegian has been one of the best strikers in Europe for a few years now and is proving that in the Premier League as well, by making a blistering start to life in Manchester City colours. Someone like him could have been a spectacular signing for Real Madrid but it was not to be, at least for the time being.

His father, Alf-Inge Haaland, has now shed some light on why he chose to join Manchester City this summer over Real Madrid. As reported by Manchester Evening News, speaking on ViaPlay’s ‘Haaland: The Choice’, he said:

"“We had established a first criterion which was: ‘Who needs a number nine?’ Manchester City had 10/10 at this level, it was the perfect option.“Real, we gave him more of a five or a six out of 10 because there is the way Karim Benzema currently plays. And we wondered if they were also going to sign [Kylian] Mbappe.”"

Why Haaland decided to join Manchester City over Real Madrid

It is safe to say that Real Madrid do have a world-class option up front already in the form of Karim Benzema, who is the heavy favourite to win the Ballon d’Or this year.

But fans are already questioning whether the club should have gone after another number nine this summer considering the fact that Benzema has not made a great start to the season and looks to be a struggling a bit to find his rhythm at this point of time. But Carlo Ancelotti has no real back up option on the bench to the Frenchman.

Mariano Diaz has not been good since sealing a return to Real Madrid several years back. On the other hand, the only options that Ancelotti could use like Eden Hazard, Rodrygo or Marco Asensio, would operate as false nines and not out-and-out strikers.

Of course, Haaland would not have come to Real Madrid to sit on the bench but Ancelotti could have found a way to play both him and Benzema together, similar to what the Frenchman did alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, which brought the club four Champions League titles.