I never expected him to leave Manchester City so soon until he hold me himself that he will be joining Real Madrid by January”- Man City star Phil Foden has just revealed his “phenomenal” teammate will be joining Real Madrid this January transfer window- And he is Manchester City Key player

Phil Foden did not expect it. Nobody inside the Manchester City dressing room truly did. When you play alongside someone who looks completely committed, someone who trains every day like a man with unfinished business, you assume he will be there for the long journey. That is why Phil Foden’s revelation has sent shockwaves through the football world. Speaking quietly but honestly, the Manchester City star admitted that he never believed his “phenomenal” teammate would leave the Etihad so soon. That belief only changed when the player himself sat him down and told him the truth. He was leaving. And not just leaving, but joining Real Madrid in January.

Those words alone carry weight. Real Madrid. January. Not someday in the future, not at the end of a long contract, but now. In the middle of a season. In the middle of a title race. For Foden, the moment felt surreal. Manchester City is not a club players usually rush to leave, especially not someone considered one of the most devastating forwards in world football. Yet the pull of Madrid is different. It always has been.

Real Madrid are already planning ahead, even as they fight through a difficult and frustrating season. For a club built on dominance, anything short of perfection feels like failure. Injuries, inconsistency, and tactical problems have slowed them down, and the leadership at the Santiago Bernabeu knows changes are coming. Big changes. The rebuild is already in motion.

One of the first pieces of that plan involves Nico Paz, who is expected to return to the club as part of a broader reshaping of the squad. A new defender is being discussed. Another midfielder is on the list. And above all else, Real Madrid want a striker. A statement striker. A name that sends fear across Europe.

Erling Haaland fits that vision perfectly.

Haaland has been on Real Madrid’s radar for years. Long before he exploded at Manchester City, Madrid were watching him closely during his time at Borussia Dortmund. They admired his physical power, his hunger, and his ruthless finishing. But when the time came to choose his next step, Haaland picked Manchester City. Pep Guardiola. The Premier League. A project built around him.

Since then, Haaland has done exactly what City hoped he would. He has scored goals at an unbelievable rate. He has broken records. He has dominated defenders. Season after season, he has proven himself as one of the most lethal strikers football has ever seen. For City fans, he felt untouchable. A long-term asset. A player who would define an era.

That feeling only grew stronger when Haaland signed a new long-term contract last year, committing his future to Manchester City until 2034. Deals like that are meant to end rumours. They are meant to bring stability. They are meant to close doors.

But Real Madrid do not see closed doors the same way others do.

According to Sky Sport Germany, the Spanish giants have never truly stepped away from the idea of signing Haaland. Behind the scenes, conversations have continued. Quietly. Carefully. Respectfully. Real Madrid’s leadership has maintained contact with Haaland’s representative, Rafaela Pimienta, and those discussions are said to be ongoing.

What makes this situation explosive is Haaland’s own mindset. Despite his long contract, despite his success in England, reports suggest that he still views the Santiago Bernabeu as the ultimate destination of his career. The final stage. The place where legends are cemented forever. And if the opportunity presents itself, he would be willing to make the move.

For Phil Foden, hearing this directly from his teammate was a moment of shock. Not because of Real Madrid’s interest, but because of the timing. January moves of this magnitude are rare. They disrupt dressing rooms. They shake foundations. Yet Haaland, calm and focused as ever, reportedly spoke with clarity. This was his decision. His dream.

Of course, such a move would nt be simple. Real Madrid cannot just sign Haaland without major changes elsewhere. The financial weight, the tactical balance, and the squad structure all matter. That is where another major storyline enters the picture.

Vinicius Junior.

Vinicius has been one of Real Madrid’s brightest stars, but his future is not as secure as many believe. He has just 18 months left on his contract, and despite his importance, there has been no extension agreed. Talks have not progressed as expected. And in modern football, that creates uncertainty.

There is growing belief that Vinicius could leave Real Madrid within the next year to 18 months, with the Premier League seen as a realistic destination. If that happens, everything changes. His departure would free up space, wages, and tactical flexibility. It would also open the door for Real Madrid to chase Haaland with full force.

In that scenario, Kylian Mbappe would move permanently to the left wing, his most natural position. Haaland would lead the line. The combination alone is enough to make defenders nervous before the match even begins. For Madrid fans, it would be a dream pairing. Power. Speed. Goals. Star power.

From Manchester City’s perspective, the situation is deeply uncomfortable. Losing Haaland in any window would hurt. Losing him in January would feel like a punch to the chest. The season is still alive. The trophies are still within reach. And Haaland remains central to everything City do.

Yet City are not powerless. They hold a contract that runs until 2034. They do not need to sell. They do not want to sell. And if Real Madrid want to force the issue, the fee would be enormous. We are talking about one of the biggest transfers in football history.

Still, contracts do not score goals. Players do. And when a player’s heart begins to drift toward a dream, football history shows that resistance often weakens over time.

Phil Foden’s words make that reality harder to ignore. This is not just media noise. This is not an agent whispering. This is a teammate revealing a personal conversation. A moment of honesty inside a dressing room built on trust.

Foden described his teammate as phenomenal. Not just for his goals, but for his mentality. That is what makes this revelation so powerful. Haaland is not running away from a challenge. He has conquered England. He has proven himself. Now, he wants to conquer Spain.

For Pep Guardiola, this is a nightmare scenario. He built his attack around Haaland. He adapted his system. He changed his pressing structure. Losing such a player mid-season would force tactical chaos. And Guardiola, who values control above all else, hates chaos.

At the same time, Guardiola understands ambition. He was once a player who dreamed of new challenges. He has coached at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City. He knows the pull of Real Madrid is unlike anything else.

Inside the Manchester City squad, the mood is complex. There is respect for Haaland’s honesty. There is disappointment. There is disbelief. And there is an unspoken fear. If Haaland can dream of leaving, who else might follow one day?

For City fans, the news feels like betrayal and reality colliding at once. They believed the contract meant security. They believed Haaland was theirs for the long run. Now, that belief feels fragile.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, are watching patiently. They are not a club that rushes publicly. They move when the moment is right. They wait for cracks. They wait for opportunity. And when they strike, they strike decisively.

If January truly becomes the moment, football will never forget it. A Manchester City superstar walking away mid-season. A Premier League giant shaken. A Spanish giant reborn.

Even if the move does not happen immediately, the message is clear. The door is open. The dream is alive. And once that happens, nothing feels permanent anymore.

Phil Foden did not expect this. Manchester City did not expect this. But football rarely asks for permission before rewriting its biggest stories.

As the January window unfolds, the world watches. Waiting. Speculating. Wondering whether this revelation will become reality. Whether Haaland will remain a City icon, or whether he is already preparing for his final chapter at the Santiago Bernabeu.One thing is certain. When a “phenomenal” player tells his teammate he is leaving for Real Madrid, football listens.