Real Madrid hoping to sign Dortmund’s Haaland in 2022

Stefan Bienkowski

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:47 CDT
• 2 min read

Real Madrid are hoping to take advantage of a verbal agreement between Erling Braut Haaland and Borussia Dortmund to sign the striker in 2022. 

According to reports in Spain, the Norwegian striker’s representative Mino Raiola and his Bundesliga club have a “gentleman’s agreement” in place that will allow Haaland the opportunity to leave Dortmund in two years. 

The report also claims that despite popular suggestions to the contrary, there is in fact no €75 million release clause attached to Haaland’s contract at Dortmund, which is set to run through till June 2024. Yet this agreement could offer some of Europe’s biggest clubs an opportunity to sign Haaland two years before his current deal runs out.

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Madrid, who are currently on the hunt for a long-term replacement to 32-year-old striker Karim Benzema, and have been linked with a number of top-level strikers such as PSG star Kylian Mbappe, yet Haaland would perhaps offer a cheaper, long-term options for the club. And, apparently, Madrid remain more optimistic of being first in line for the Norwegian striker when this agreement is put into place. 

The Spanish giants will be looking to take advantage of the professional ties between themselves and Dortmund, having worked cordially on a number of transfers in recent seasons, while also making full use of Haaland’s strong friendship with Madrid midfielder Martin Odegaard.

One stumbling block may be Raiola’s tense relationship with Madrid president Florentino Perez, however reports suggest the Spanish giants may approach Haaland’s agent through club CEO Jose Angel Sanchez, who is much closer to the super agent. 

Haaland has been in superb form for Dortmund since arriving from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2022 for €20 million, scoring a remarkable 26 goals and bagging six assists in just 28 games for the Bundesliga club to date. His first 10 games of the new season have been particularly impressive, with 10 goals and three assists.