On Wednesday evening (9 p.m.) there will be a semi-final second leg between Real Madrid and Manchester City in the Champions League. Both top clubs not only deliver a spectacular duel on the green pitch. After all, both clubs are considered the hottest contenders for a commitment from Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland. But where would the BVB attacker fit better?
The transfer saga surrounding Erling Haaland just never ends. The rumor mill has been churning for months, with new speculations and water level reports being added almost every day.
Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid or FC Bayern or FC Barcelona? Hardly a top club is left out when speculating about the future employer of the 21-year-old.
In recent weeks, however, two clubs have emerged as the favorites: Manchester City and Real Madrid. Both reportedly lure the Norwegian with an astronomical content, both lure Haaland with the prospect of a lot of titles.
But at the same time it is the big differences between the two prospects that stand out.
Manchester City bet on false nine
Pep Guardiola and center forward, that’s really not a love affair. In his successful coaching career, the Catalan has so far mainly relied on flexible attacking players in the center of attack, also at Manchester City. For years, Sergio Agüero acted as a false nine for the Sky Blues, currently Gabriel Jesus, Bernardo Silva or Phil Foden share the post.
So would Haaland even work in the possession-oriented pep system? Yes, at least Ilkay Gündogan claims.
“I think a player like that, with all the qualities he brings, would suit pretty much any team,” said the Manchester City midfield strategist a few weeks ago. Nevertheless, he noted that a lot should change with Haaland in the team: “It feels like an eternity since we played with a striker.”
Haaland, according to Hamann, the “anti-pep player”
The fact is: Guardiola demands more from his attackers than just a strong exploitation of chances. The Norwegian journalist and Premier League correspondent Lars Sivertsen therefore sent his compatriot a warning ahead of time.
“Maybe he needs to get even better when it comes to one-touch combinations in the build-up game. And he needs to learn how to fix the balls better in the center of attack as a kind of wall and then try to involve his teammates in a one-two pass game,” the reporter recently analyzed at “Sport1”.
In an interview with “Sport Bild”, Didi Hamann even claimed that Haaland was the “anti-pep player”. “I don’t think he wants a real nine,” is the TV expert’s thesis. “The Sun” reported again that Guardiola would be interested in the possible cooperation with Haaland.
Benzema stands in the way of Haaland at Real Madrid
In the race for the BVB goalscorer, Manchester City has also been looking at Real Madrid for weeks, the royals are also considered top contenders. And there a shock striker is planned.
The freshly crowned Spanish champion doesn’t really have a need. The reason: the outstanding Karim Benzema.
The Frenchman has already scored 42 goals – including 14 (!) in the Champions League – in the current round. “It’s unbelievable what he’s playing this season,” David Alaba praised his team-mate after his brace in the spectacular semi-final first leg against Manchester City (3-4) on “Amazon Prime”.
Head coach Carlo Ancelotti added: “We are very happy and happy to have him.” It is therefore almost impossible for Real Madrid to saw off their 34-year-old club icon (321 goals) for Haaland.
In addition, the Spaniards have been courting Kylian Mbappé since last summer. The 23-year-old can leave Paris Saint-Germain for free after the current season and has long been considered a transfer candidate at Real Madrid.
BVB star Haaland has to make a difficult decision
If the 2018 world champion actually joins the royals, there would definitely be no more room for Haaland in the starting eleven – even if the BVB star with his enormous physique would certainly fit in well with Real’s style of play.
Consequently, Haaland faces a difficult decision.
While the tactical orientation speaks for a change to Real Madrid, the staffing suggests a transfer to Manchester City. The problem: Neither with one nor with the other club does the Dortmund superstar currently fit like a glove.
The poker game for the Dortmund striker has not yet been decided – and so the transfer saga about Haaland continues happily.
Jannik Kube