Erling Braut Haaland has undeniably cemented his status as a global football phenomenon, transcending his role as a prolific scorer for Manchester City. His performance for Norway at the 2026 World Cup, where he netted an impressive seven goals, further highlighted his exceptional talent on the international stage. Weeks prior to this tournament, the former president of Borussia Dortmund, the club where Haaland shone for two and a half years in the Ruhr region, offered a significant hint regarding his anticipated transfer to Real Madrid.
During a recent presidential campaign, the name of Erling Braut Haaland was prominently featured by Enrique Riquelme. As an opponent vying for the presidency against Florentino Pérez for the top position at Real Madrid, Riquelme had publicly declared on television that, if elected, he would commit to securing the services of Manchester City’s formidable striker. Ultimately, Pérez was re-elected to lead the prestigious Merengue institution. It appears that the prospect of bringing Haaland to the Santiago Bernabéu remains a significant consideration for him.
Real Madrid’s long-standing pursuit of Haaland
Even before Kylian Mbappé made his move to Real Madrid in 2024, Erling Haaland was already a primary target for the Merengue club in the transfer market, with interest surfacing as early as 2021. A year later, the Norwegian international departed Borussia Dortmund to join Manchester City. While he has rapidly become an icon for City within just five seasons, Haaland reportedly harbors the ambition to one day don the white jersey of Real Madrid. This sentiment was echoed by the president of Borussia Dortmund in early June, as reported in AS.
“I believe he will play there within two or three years”
“I have a very clear understanding of his thoughts, and I can confirm his admiration for Real Madrid and his desire to play there in the future, though he will undoubtedly continue with Manchester City next season. He openly expresses his fondness for Real Madrid. My expectation is that he will join them within the next two or three years, but not immediately. As his father stated, he has not committed to any specific club,” revealed Hans-Joachim Watzke amidst Real Madrid’s intense presidential campaign. All that remains now is to await the moment Haaland makes his anticipated arrival at the Santiago Bernabéu as a new recruit for the Casa Blanca.
