Benzema on Haaland: Every year another striker is linked with Real Madrid

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:42 CDT
• 3 min read

Karim Benzema has lamented the fact that Real Madrid are seemingly linked with a move for another star striker every season – just like with Erling Haaland at the moment.

Real Madrid are one of a number of clubs credited with an interest in the prolific Norwegian striker, who has scored 31 goals in 29 starts for Borussia Dortmund in all competitions this season.

Ever since his move to RB Salzburg and subsequently to Dortmund, he has developed into one of the most sought-after centre-forwards in the world.

Benzema has enjoyed continued excellent at Real Madrid too, however, and has again been arguably their most important player in the 2020/21 season.

Karim Benzema has scored 70 goals in the Champions League, making him 5th-highest all-time scorer.

NONE of them have come from the penalty spot pic.twitter.com/FCHTgjkmeQ

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 16, 2021

At the weekend he scored both goals as Madrid came back from behind to defeat Elche 2-1 to keep their title hopes alive in Spain, while on Tuesday he scored the opening goal of the game in the Champions League last 16 second-leg clash against Atalanta to help seal progression to the quarter-final stage.

What has Benzema said about Haaland?

Ahead of that Champions League encounter, Benzema was asked to comment on Sergio Ramos saying it would be easier for Los Blancos to sign Haaland ahead of Kylian Mbappe, another player they have been linked with.

The Frenchman was unconcerned about his captain’s words, though did seem perturbed that the club are constantly linked with players who could come in and replace him.

“How am I going to talk about a player who is not at our club? What Sergio [Ramos] said the other day was Sergio’s thoughts,” Benzema said.

“I have been here for a long time and every year we talk about strikers who could score goals for Real Madrid.

“Haaland is a young player who scores a lot of goals at his club. That’s all. He has to work hard to help his team.

“And if one day he has the chance to come to Madrid, and if he does want to, he would join us. That’s it.”