Revealed: The reasons why Real Madrid prefer Haaland over Mbappe

Suraj Radia

13 Oct 2022 21:39 BST
3 min read

Kylian Mbappe, PSG, 2022/23 — © ProShots

Real Madrid are looking to make a blockbuster signing in the future, with Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland considered potential targets, however the Norwegian could be the player the club choose to pursue, according to reports.

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Mbappe has told Paris Saint-Germain he wants to leave just months after rejecting Madrid to sign a new contract, while Haaland is believed to have a €200 million release clause in his Manchester City deal.

Spanish outlet SPORT claims that Real were deciding between the duo as the long-term replacement for Karim Benzema but there is ‘unanimity’ at the club to prioritise Haaland, with Mbappe fading ‘into the background’.

The main reason for Haaland being preferred is simply because the needs of the team have changed since the original pursuit of Mbappe, with the emergence of Brazilian pair Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior minimising the need for a wide player.

There is also ‘antipathy’ at the club over Mbappe after his late u-turn in the summer, with owner Florentino Perez said to still be seething at the 23-year-old going back on his word to join Madrid.

Irrespective of their choice, a huge concern over signing Mbappe would be the Frenchman’s asking price, with talk of a clause in his contract that means Real would have to pay €400m to sign him.

Real ‘won’t lift a finger’ for ‘arrogant’ Mbappe

SPORT insists that the clause ‘satisfies’ Madrid as they believe Mbappe has become ‘arrogant, capricious and demanding’ while Haaland is deemed to have a ‘lower and more ambitious’ profile on the pitch, although time may change their opinion.

With Haaland’s clause half of what PSG would demand, Real will move for the City man ‘without any doubt’ if he wants to join, while they will ‘not lift a finger’ for Mbappe unless he severs ties with his team and is available for a modest fee.

🚨🎖️| Contacts between Real Madrid & Mbappé have NEVER been broken. Let’s see what happens in the coming months. @Romain_Molina
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) October 13, 2022

SPORT also state that Real’s primary target next summer will be Jude Bellingham as they look to replace veteran midfielders Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, with Bruno Guimaraes and Joao Gomes also being considered.

Real believe they have succeeded in replacing former stars such as Sergio Ramos and Casemiro and will now focus on long-term successors to Benzema and their midfielders.