Karim Benzema’s contract with Real Madrid runs out in 2023. The club plans to offer him a new one-year deal, eyeing a massive hit on the transfer market in 2024, when Erling Haaland is set to become available.
Real lost the chance to sign the 21-year-old Norwegian and went all-in on Kylian Mbappe, whom they also missed out on in the end.
Haaland sealed a move to Manchester City, who paid Dortmund almost $62 million to have the in-form Viking in Pep Guardiola’s dream team. His contract at the Etihad runs until 2025, but a year before a release clause makes him available for $156.5 million.
Even though it’s unusual for English clubs to have release clauses in players’ contracts, Haaland and his representatives negotiated in the same way they did with Dortmund in January 2020, when the striker moved from RB Salzburg. Before his death, super-agent Mino Raiola closed the Haaland deal and made City accept the release clause starting in 2024.
Real Madrid is optimistic to sign Haaland, given that he spoke out before of his wish to play for the Spanish giants. Haaland is a big fan of the beaches in Marbella, where he regularly goes to relax with friends and family. In December last year, also in Marbella, the attacker told a fan that he’ll “play here, in Spain”, fueling speculation that a deal with Madrid was done.
Karim Benzema will take over the Real Madrid captain’s armband next season. The 34-year-old scored 44 goals in 46 games for Real Madrid in all competitions over the previous campaign and is the big favorite to win the ‘Ballon d’Or’ this year.
Will Haaland replicate his numbers from Dortmund in the Premier League?
Haaland is the bookies’ favorite to win the Premier League ‘Golden Boot’ next season, rewarding the top goalscorer in the league. Haaland is now at +330, with joint-holders Salah and Son-Heung Min both behind. Salah is at +450, while Son sits at +900. The South-Korean’s teammate from Tottenham, Harry Kane, is better positioned than him at +600. Cristiano Ronaldo, who might be on the move this summer, stands at +1000.
Haaland is at +300 to score 30 or more goals next season, with a bet on the Norwegian netting in each of Man. City’s first three Premier League matches at +500. Haaland being the top goalscorer in both the Champions League and Premier League returns bettors +1600.
Last season for Dortmund, Haaland played 30 matches, scoring 29 goals and assisting another eight. He was out with injuries on two occasions, but that didn’t affect his fantastic goal-scoring form.