Former Real Madrid star Steve McManaman thinks it is bizarre to suggest that Erling Haaland is already certain to head to the Bernabeu when his time at Manchester City comes to an end.
Haaland will lead the line for City against Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tonight (Tuesday) with Karim Benzema on the opposite side in a clash of the game’s best two strikers.
While there will be stars littered across the pitch, it is the battle between the Ballon d’Or winner against the man looking to usurp him that leads the bill. But any suggestion, trailed since last summer, that Haaland is already destined to end up in the white of Real at the end of his City contract is hard for McManaman to comprehend.
“To have your future path mapped out for you like that is strange,” he said. “I’ve no idea if any club can afford him going off what he’s supposed to be paid. We can only talk about now.
"He’s joined Man City as a potential superstar from Dortmund and previously Salzburg. He’s continued in the same vein and if he keeps on giving those numbers and is successful this year… “
Basically the sky is the limit. Should City close the season out with a Treble to rival Manchester United ’s in 1999, Haaland would become the indisputable favourite to be crowned the world’s best player for 2023.
McManaman added: “If you look across Europe and think of Benzema getting the Ballon D’or last year and you look at all of the teams, there’s not many stand outs this year. If he’s scoring 50 goals and is in a successful Man City team – they’re not successful yet – he can elevate himself to a different level to when he joined.
“All he can keep doing is improving and improving. If he can continue doing that for the next three or four years, who knows, he might stay at City because he’s enjoying his football.
“All I can go on is, for me, Real Madrid is a wonderful club and when I go back and see everybody it’s a family-oriented place. The same people who were there 20 years ago are there. I’ve many friends there. I love the club.”
Jude Bellingham, the teenage England midfielder, is expected to complete a blockbuster move from Borussia Dortmund to Madrid in the summer. McManaman said that he will be considered a “God” should he arrive in Spain and believes it is an “even more” attractive destination than when he was signed from Liverpool in the late 90s.
“It’s not just about finances. Real Madrid pay very well. They may not pay as well as the Premier League. I’ve no idea what their wage bill is compared to some of the Premier League. But they pay very well. You’ve got the chance to live in Madrid, the chance to play in this new and futuristic stadium that will be up in a couple of months.
"You’ll be the king of Madrid if you play well and win well. It’s no surprise the likes of Roberto Carlos, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Ronaldo are all from different countries but still reside in Madrid. Because it’s an incredible, beautiful city with nice weather. It’s definitely still there.”
BT Sport is the exclusive home of the UEFA Champions League. Watch Real Madrid v Man City on Tuesday May 9 from 7pm, live on BT Sport 1. For more info, visit bt.com/sport
