Haaland will go to Real Madrid, not Liverpool, says former Reds favourite
Martin Macdonald
- 23 Sept 2021 14:13 BST
- 3 min read
Former Liverpool winger Steve McManaman believes Erling Haaland will sign for Real Madrid next summer.
Haaland is one of the most desired strikers in world football at the moment, having burst onto the scene with RB Salzburg and then Borussia Dortmund to become a goal-scoring machine.
For the German side, he has scored a remarkable 68 goals in 65 starts in his time with the club.
Haaland is wanted by every major side in Europe and at one point or another has been linked with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Bayern Munich.
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Last week Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo indicated that Liverpool represented the biggest threat to Barcelona or Real Madrid signing Haaland.
However, McManaman is of the opinion that the Norwegian star will be tempted by the glitz and glamour of Santiago Bernabeu.
"Do I believe Liverpool will be in the race to sign Erling Haaland next summer? No," the former Liverpool and Madrid man told HorseRacing.net.
"I really believe there’s a possibility he will head to Real Madrid and I think the player personally fancies Real Madrid and the lifestyle that comes with playing for them.
The Raiola effect
Liverpool are currently attempted to extend the contract of Mohamed Salah, with the Egyptian reportedly demanding a salary of £500,000 per week to remain at Anfield.
TRUE ✅ Mino Raiola demanded a wages of €50m/year for Erling Håland from @ChelseaFC this Summer, in addition to agents fees of €40m
— Christian Falk (@cfbayern) August 25, 2021
McManaman believes that Haaland's agent Mino Raiola would demand more than that for his client, as well as a significant fee for his own services - something which Liverpool would not agree to.
"I don’t think the transfer fee is the reason that Liverpool won’t be in the market for Erling," he continued.
"I believe it’s all the other variables that come with signing a player of his calibre. He would command a big wage and once you pay one player a huge amount of money, then all the other players are going to want the same.
"Mino Raiola would want a tonne of money for not only Haaland but for himself too and I don’t think Liverpool would want any part in that."
According to German football journalist Christian Falk of Sport Bild, Raiola demanded wages of €50m per season for Haaland while in negotiations with Chelsea over the summer, as well as €40m for himself.
