Messi is driving Haaland to Real Madrid

Robin Bairner

• 31 Jan 2024 03:29 CST
• 3 min read

Erling Haaland could well make his dream move to Real Madrid, and if he does, Los Blancos will have Lionel Messi to thank for it.

Haaland enjoyed a spectacular 2022/23 campaign in which he scored 52 goals in 53 games as Manchester City claimed a Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble.

Despite his personal achievement, the Norway international missed out on both the Ballon d’Or and The Best to former Barcelona star Messi, and this, according to AS, has fuelled the realisation of the centre-forward that he needs to leave his current employers in order to gain the recognition that he deserves.

Alfie Haaland, the player’s father, was said to have a “displeased and ironic” smile as he left The Best ceremony.

Speaking to the media outside, he said: “It’s fair that Messi won because it was through a voting system. So it’s fair, yes.

“But it's going to be difficult to have a season like the one Erling did again, with the team winning everything and him setting all the records. All the luck in the world to whoever tries to beat that record.

“Not getting a reward? That’s how it is.”

Haaland an alternative to Mbappe

Now AS believes that this snub is fuelling Haaland’s prospective move to Real Madrid – and putting Kylian Mbappe’s switch from PSG to Los Blancos in the summer under threat.

Mbappe has already been offered terms by Real Madrid but it is stressed “the Haaland option is there”.

The report adds that Haaland is the backup option to the France star, with a release clause “closer to €100m than €200m” for clubs outside of the Premier League.

Moreover, Rafaela Pimenta, Haaland’s agent, has refused to nail her client down to Man City in the long term, previously admitting that his future remains fluid and suggesting that a surprise summer transfer to Real Madrid should not be taken off the table.