Erling Braut Haaland has undeniably cemented his status as a global football phenomenon, not just with Manchester City but also on the international stage. During the 2026 World Cup, his seven goals for Norway underscored his exceptional scoring ability. Weeks prior to this impressive display, the president of Borussia Dortmund, the club where Haaland shone for two and a half years in the Ruhr region, offered intriguing insights into the prodigious striker’s prospective move to Real Madrid.
Just last month, Erling Braut Haaland’s name surfaced prominently during Enrique Riquelme’s presidential campaign for Real Madrid. Riquelme, a challenger to Florentino Pérez for the top leadership role at the Spanish club, had publicly vowed on television that, if elected, he would commit to securing the Manchester City goal machine. Ultimately, Pérez was re-elected to helm the illustrious Merengue institution. It appears that the prospect of Haaland joining still occupies a significant place in Pérez’s long-term strategic plans.
real madrid’s long-standing pursuit of haaland
Even before Kylian Mbappé’s anticipated arrival at Real Madrid in 2024, Erling Haaland represented a major transfer target for the Spanish giants, with initial interest dating back to 2021. A year later, the Norwegian international departed Borussia Dortmund to join Manchester City. In just five seasons, Haaland has already become an iconic figure for City, yet the ambition to one day don the white jersey of Real Madrid remains a strong desire. This sentiment was echoed by the Borussia Dortmund president in an interview with AS earlier in June.
“i believe he will play there within two or three years”
“I have a clear understanding of his thoughts, and I can confirm that he holds Real Madrid in high regard and aspires to play for them in the future. However, for the upcoming season, he will undoubtedly continue with Manchester City. He adores Real Madrid and makes no secret of it. My belief is that he will join them within the next two or three years, but not in the immediate future. He has not committed to any other club, as his father has stated,” revealed Hans-Joachim Watzke during Real Madrid’s intense presidential campaign. Fans and observers will now have to patiently await Haaland’s eventual arrival at the Santiago Bernabéu as a new acquisition for the Casa Blanca.