The situation
Erling Haaland in 2024. Madrid has tweaked its strategic plan and it is already working with that idea on the horizon, that of activating the Norwegian’s exit clause with Manchester City within two summers . An escape mechanism, estimated at 150 million euros, that the Nordic giant included in his signing for the citizens because he is still predisposed to become a Madridista sooner or later. The Haaland case and the Mbappe case , as Florentino Pérez made clear in El Chiringuito, “have nothing to do with each other”. The club never considered both operations as communicating vessels. The goal was always the French now and the Norwegian at least in 2023 . That is why Mbappé’s unexpected and late ‘no’ was not a setback for Haaland, who had already signed for City. Madrid asked him and those around him to wait for another season , but Haaland’s unshakable conviction to leave Dortmund now made him finally decide to go to the Etihad. The reason for asking Haaland for patience is based on the fact that in this way a sweet transition would be made with Benzema, who instead of fading away at 34 years of age, has had the best season of his life. Florentino continues to be Karim’s staunchest defender in the entity and does not consider it a priority to bring a nine with a starting spot.
The details
Less now that the Frenchman exhibits this high level that has him so close to winning his first Ballon d’Or , one of those medals that Madrid also wants to show off on their chest. So much so that signing a substitute nine that could come with minute demands is not being valued either. “If someone came, it would be in case Benzema gets constipated, but not to be a starter,” insisted Florentino. The outcome that finally brought Haaland to City was also influenced by the death of Mino Raiola , the striker’s representative. It was the voice within the player’s environment who advocated Madrid as the ideal destination for the boy. Raiola had also had the idea of finally completing the transfer of one of his stars to the Bernabéu for some time. Especially after not having achieved it with Pogba, a situation that once again made the atmosphere between the white entity and the powerful agent more difficult. Without Raiola at the table, Haaland and his father Alfie ultimately opted for the bird in the hand , City’s astronomical offer .