Erling Haaland’s future has once again become one of the biggest talking points in world football, and this time the noise is even louder because of the staggering figures being mentioned. Reports linking the Manchester City striker with a possible €500 million move to Real Madrid have sent shockwaves across Europe, forcing fans, pundits, and journalists to ask the same question again: could Haaland really leave Manchester City, and if so, what does he actually think about it?
Haaland is not just another striker. He is a phenomenon. Since the very start of his professional career, goals have followed him everywhere. From his early days in Norway with Bryne and Molde, to his breakout spell at Red Bull Salzburg, then his explosive rise at Borussia Dortmund, and now his dominant era at Manchester City, Haaland has made scoring goals look simple. Across his club career, he has scored 287 goals in 362 appearances, numbers that place him among the most feared forwards of his generation
When Manchester City signed him in 2022, many believed it was the final piece of Pep Guardiola’s puzzle. City were already dominating English football, but Haaland took them to another level. Records fell almost immediately. Defenders looked helpless. Goalkeepers looked resigned. And City went on to enjoy historic success, with Haaland at the centre of it all.
In January 2024, City made a huge statement about their long-term plans by handing Haaland a monster contract. The deal reportedly pays him around £500,000 per week before bonuses and runs until June 2034. That means Haaland is contractually tied to Manchester City until he is 34 years old. On paper, that should have ended all speculation about his future for goo
Real Madrid have never hidden their admiration for Haaland. The Spanish giants see him as the ultimate striker, the kind of player who could lead their attack for years and dominate Europe in the famous white shirt. According to reports from Sky Germany, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is once again dreaming big. Very big. The idea of signing Haaland is reportedly still alive inside the Bernabeu, and the numbers being discussed are unlike anything football has ever seen before.
A €500 million deal would shatter every transfer record in history. It would be more than double the current record fee. It would change the way people talk about transfers forever. And yet, despite how crazy it sounds, Real Madrid are one of the very few clubs in the world that could even consider something like this.
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Perez is said to be in regular contact with Haaland’s representatives, including his agent Rafaela Pimenta. Those talks are described as ongoing, respectful, and long-term. This is not about rushing a deal tomorrow. It is about planting seeds, keeping relationships warm, and waiting for the right moment.
According to the same reports, Haaland himself sees playing for Real Madrid as a “career goal”. That phrase alone has been enough to fuel endless debate. Some City fans see it as harmless ambition. Others see it as a warning sign. Because for many players, Real Madrid is not just another club. It is the club. The history, the Champions League trophies, the legends who have played there – it carries a unique weight.
Still, wanting something and making it happen are two very different things.
The biggest obstacle to any potential move is not just the money, but Real Madrid’s current squad structure. Sky Germany claims that for Real to even think about paying a fee of over €500 million, they would first need to sell one of their biggest stars. Vinicius Junior is often mentioned in this context. The Brazilian forward has been central to Madrid’s recent success, but his contract situation and enormous market value mean that his departure could fund a significant portion of a Haaland deal.
That scenario alone shows how complicated this transfer would be. It is not simply about City accepting an offer or Haaland wanting to leave. It would require major changes at Real Madrid, massive financial planning, and perfect timing.
It is also important to remember that this is not the first time Haaland has been linked with Madrid. Back in 2022, when he was still at Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid were heavily interested. Many expected him to join them. Instead, he chose Manchester City. At the time, Haaland made it clear that he wanted to work under Pep Guardiola and test himself in the Premier League.
That decision has been fully justified. His numbers at City are incredible. His trophy haul is growing. And he has become the face of one of the most dominant teams in Europe.
So has anything changed?
Haaland has been asked about Real Madrid several times since joining City, and his answers have always been carefully balanced. In March 2024, ahead of a Champions League match against Copenhagen, he was directly asked about the possibility of playing for Madrid one day. His response was simple and open-ended: “Real Madrid? You never know what the future may bring.
That answer did not commit to anything, but it did not shut the door either. It was the kind of response that keeps everyone guessing.
Then, in January 2025, the topic came up again, this time after comments from his father, Alf-Inge Haaland. His father had suggested that Erling might like to play in several of Europe’s top leagues during his career, spending two or three years in each. When asked about this idea, Haaland reacted sharply.
“I just signed a nine-and-a-half year deal, so what do you want me to say?” he replied.
He went on to make his position clear: he was happy at Manchester City, satisfied with his choice, and looking forward to spending many years in Manchester. For City fans, those words were reassuring. They sounded like a player fully committed to the project.
But football careers are long, and opinions can evolve.
In December 2025, after Manchester City played at the Santiago Bernabeu in the Champions League, Haaland once again found himself speaking about Real Madrid, even if indirectly. Asked about playing at the famous stadium, he could not hide his admiration. He described the Bernabeu as “incredible”, praising the atmosphere and the feeling of playing there. He talked about loving big games and enjoying the expanded Champions League format.
Those comments were not controversial. Many players say similar things after playing at iconic stadiums. But when you combine them with reports of Madrid’s interest and talk of a €500 million deal, every word is analysed closely
From Manchester City’s perspective, the situation is clear. They hold all the cards. Haaland is under contract until 2034. There is no release clause that makes things easy. Any club that wants him would have to negotiate directly with City, and City would have no reason to sell unless the offer was truly impossible to refuse.
Pep Guardiola has built his team around Haaland. The club has structured its commercial plans, marketing, and football strategy with him as a central figure. Letting him go would require more than just money. It would require a complete rethink.
For City supporters, the idea of losing Haaland is painful. He represents dominance, confidence, and fear for opponents. Seeing him in another shirt, especially that of Real Madrid, is almost unthinkable. At the same time, many fans understand that footballers have dreams too. Playing for Real Madrid has been the ultimate ambition for countless legends.
For Real Madrid fans, the idea of Haaland leading their attack is mouth-watering. Pairing him with stars like Kylian Mbappe would create a terrifying frontline. It would signal another era of Galácticos, another attempt to dominate Europe not just with history, but with raw power.
Yet, for all the noise, one thing remains true: nothing is imminent. There is no agreement. There is no official bid. There is only interest, admiration, and speculation.
Haaland himself remains focused on football. He continues to score goals. He continues to break records. He continues to lead Manchester City’s attack with relentless intensity. Every week, he looks like a player fully invested in the present, not distracted by the future.
Whether that future includes Real Madrid is something only time will reveal. For now, Haaland’s stance appears to be one of calm confidence. He has acknowledged Madrid’s greatness without committing to them. He has reaffirmed his happiness at City without pretending football is predictable.
The €500 million figure may sound outrageous, even impossible. But football has a habit of breaking its own limits. What once seemed unthinkable often becomes reality.
Until then, the story continues. Every goal Haaland scores will add fuel to the debate. Every comment he makes will be dissected. And every rumour linking him to Madrid will remind the world that when it comes to Erling Haaland, nothing is ever truly off the table.
