Former Real Madrid player, Michael Owen has identified the individual who must depart from the Spanish club if they wish to acquire Erling Haaland.
The Manchester City forward is frequently associated with a transfer to the Bernabeu having solidified his status as one of the premier players globally.
Owen discussed the potential of Haaland joining Real Madrid with Goal.com, emphasizing that the club will not pursue the Norwegian as long as Kylian Mbappe is part of the team.
He noted that both athletes occupy the same position, making it impossible for them to coexist on the field. He also cautioned that amassing star players does not always yield success, referencing historical instances.
“As long as they have Mbappe, I cannot envision them investing that amount.
“There are already doubts about whether Vini Junior and Mbappe can function together since Mbappe tends to favor the left side; this is already under scrutiny. If it were Mbappe and Haaland, how would they accommodate both? Would they position Mbappe on the left?
“In my opinion, it has to be one or the other. I do not believe it is feasible to have two of the arguably best centre-forwards in the world, Mbappe and Haaland, in the same squad.
“Considering the financial implications and the challenge of making it work… It would necessitate Mbappe’s departure for that to occur, I would assume.
“They have previously attempted the Galactico approach many years ago, in my era. Simply gathering exceptional players is not necessarily the solution,” he stated.
Erling Haaland was previously linked with a transfer to Real Madrid during his tenure at Borussia Dortmund but ultimately signed with Manchester City in 2022. His transfer to England did not diminish the speculation regarding a move to the Bernabeu, even after he signed a ten-year contract with the Cityzens in 2024.
Mbappe dreamt of playing for the Spanish giants long before he joined them in the summer of 2024 as a free agent. He has scored 86 goals in 103 appearances for the club, but has yet to win any major silverware since joining.
Real Madrid have some of the biggest names in football in Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, and Mbappe, and have spent over €140 million on Yan Diomande this summer.
They will be reluctant to splash the cash on another attacking reinforcement such as Erling Haaland in the coming windows.