Erling Haaland is once again at the center of the European transfer conversation, with Real Madrid emerging as the club most strongly linked to the Norwegian superstar. The Spanish giants rate Haaland extremely highly, and president Florentino Pérez dreams of building a truly dominant attack for the years to come.
The idea of pairing Erling Haaland with Kylian Mbappé is seen in Madrid as a historic move—one that could redefine modern football. A French–Norwegian attacking duo of this caliber would be capable of deciding matches and finals almost on their own, making Real Madrid nearly unstoppable.
However, the main obstacle is the price.
Manchester City have no intention of selling their star striker, and any potential deal would require an extraordinary offer, well above normal market standards. The transfer fee alone is expected to exceed €200 million, reflecting not only Haaland’s footballing ability but also his age, global appeal, and long-term commercial value.
Beyond the transfer fee, Haaland’s salary demands are among the highest in world football. When factoring in wages, performance bonuses, agent commissions, and contract-related costs, the total investment could rise to as much as €500 million.
Real Madrid are fully aware that such an operation would have a massive financial impact on the club, which is why every detail is being analyzed carefully behind the scenes. Still, Pérez understands that opportunities of this magnitude come once in a generation.
If Real Madrid truly want to build the most feared attack in world football, they may have to accept extraordinary risks for an extraordinary reward.
