- 12 hours ago
Haaland release clause denied by Dortmund
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
- 2 min read
Borussia Dortmund have moved to reject claims that striker Erling Haaland has a clause in his contract that will allow him to depart in 2021.
Signed from Red Bull Salzburg in January for around €20 million, the Norway international has been in sensational form since his switch to the Bundesliga, scoring 24 goals in 26 matches for Lucien Favre’s men.
He joined BVB despite interest from the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid – and that has only intensified due to his consistently impressive form with the Bundesliga side.
Real Madrid, particularly, have been linked with a swoop for both him and Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe, and reports of a release clause worth €75m only make him a more attractive prospect.
Hans-Joachim Watzke, the CEO of Dortmund, has denied there is a loophole in place for 2021.
“There is no such agreement,” he told Sport Bild.
Haaland has been in prolific form again in the early weeks of the season for Dortmund, although he missed their most recent Bundesliga outing against Arminia Bielefeld due to a knee problem. Otherwise, he has scored five goals in five league matches, while he has netted in Champions League outings against Lazio and Zenit St Petersburg.
He is likely to make his return on Wednesday for a clash with Club Brugge.
Haaland to Real Madrid?
If Dortmund have played down the prospect of Haaland leaving next summer, more extensive reports suggest there is an agreement in place for 2022 that will allow him to leave if a sum of €75m is offered.
That could be of greater interest to Real Madrid, who are presently undertaking the expensive job of renovating their Bernabeu home.
Indeed, former president Antonio Calderon told Calciomercato on Tuesday that he doubts that Los Blancos will be able to make any big signings in 2021 because of additional financial burden that comes at the same time as the coronavirus crisis.
But while that arguably increases their long-term chances of signing the 20-year-old Haaland, it complicates matters regarding Mbappe, whose contract is up in 2022. PSG will not allow him to leave on a free transfer and so it is more probable that the World Cup winner either signs fresh terms of departs in the next close season.
