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Erling Haaland caused quite a stir ahead of Manchester City’s midweek Champions League game against Copenhagen. “I’m sure I’ll read what I’ve said in the headlines tomorrow,” said the Norwegian striker, before dropping the following bombshell: “Real Madrid? You never know what the future may bring”.

It would be rather easier for the former Borussia Dortmund star to say that he was very happy in Manchester (which appears to be true) and that he is only focused on achieving big things with City. Instead, however, he chose to send a measured, premeditated message to Real Madrid. As AS has previously reported, Haaland remains keen on Los Blancos and vice versa.

The possibility of seeing Haaland kitted out in white in the future therefore isn’t out of the question, despite the imminent arrival of Paris Saint-Germain attacker Kylian Mbappé.

What release clause does Haaland have in the 2024 summer transfer window?

The negotiation skills of Rafaela Pimenta, the Norwegian’s agent, are renowned the world over. When her client joined Manchester City, she ensured a clause was inserted in his contract allowing him to leave in the summer of 2024 for a “reasonable” price, if the buying club was from outside the Premier League. On top of that, the fee drops as the end of the transfer window draws closer.

If Haaland extends his current deal, as is City’s intention and for which talks have been held, Pimenta’s modus operandi means the door will almost certainly remain open for him to leave, giving Madrid – and Haaland, given his recent words – hope he could end up in the Spanish capital.

Could Haaland and Mbappé play for Real Madrid at the same time?

The potential issue for Real Madrid is having both Haaland and Mbappé on their wage bill at the same time. Although the extra revenue generated by the redeveloped Estadio Santiago Bernabéu is expected to provide them with an additional €150 million per year, starting next season, according to the club’s official accounts.

Los Blancos have already insisted signing Mbappé isn’t going to break their salary structure and that the Frenchman won’t earn more than Jude Bellingham. That suggests he will make €30 million per season (€15 million after tax), which could complicate matters; that figure is less than half of what Mbappé and Haaland currently earn at PSG and City respectively.

City striker’s image rights obstacle

To make things even more complex, AS has learned from a reliable source close to Haaland that he has ownership of 100% of his image rights, an obstacle Madrid are also having to get around with Mbappé. The LaLiga giants have insisted they receive 50% of all its players’ image rights deals since the Galáctico era, with the thinking being players make extra money from being associated with one of the biggest and most successful clubs in the history of the sport.

Haaland and Real Madrid’s discussions

The confirmation that Mbappé would be leaving PSG was a blow for Haaland. The Norway international had hoped for a 2025 move to Madrid after a three-year spell in the Premier League with City, with his representatives having spoken to the Spanish club when they enquired about his contractual situation in Manchester.

The aforementioned release clause, which will be active this summer, will see a potential transfer fee for Haaland decrease as the window progresses, which should bring him into financial reach for Real Madrid. The two parties have already been in contact and will now have to think more seriously about whether and when they could join forces.

In any case, the possibility of the City striker ending up at the Bernabéu is very much alive. Whether it could happen this summer or a little further down the line, however, remains to be seen.