Erling Haaland was a 'burden on the dressing room' as Man City transfer stance emerges

Erling Haaland is reportedly open to the prospect of a sensational switch to Real Madrid, amid fresh reports linking him with a move to the Bernabeu.

The 24-year-old Manchester City striker has been nothing short of phenomenal since his arrival in the summer of 2022, clinching the treble and smashing records thanks to his astonishing 101 goals in just 109 appearances.

But Haaland’s extraordinary goal-scoring spree has come at a price for City, as Real Madrid, along with their fierce rivals Barcelona, have been credited as suitors for the Norwegian striker.

Sky Sports recently reported that Haaland is attracted by the idea of moving to Madrid in the near future, a sentiment he’s already shared with his close circle.

Haaland reportedly has a £125m release clause in his contract that is set to expire in 2027, which could work in the Spanish giants’ favour.. The same Sky Sports report suggests that should Haaland depart for Spain next summer, City might pursue Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres.

Adding to City’s concerns, Haaland’s father, Alf-Inge, has openly expressed his son’s ambition to test himself across Europe’s top leagues. In the documentary ‘Haaland: The Big Decision’, he said: “I think Erling wants to prove his abilities in all leagues. Then he can stay there [Manchester City] for three or four years at the most.

“He could be, for example, two-and-a-half years in Germany, two-and-a-half years in England and then in Spain, Italy, France, right?”

He added: “On our list, I think City is the best team. [Bayern] Munich is number two. We have Real Madrid as number three, Paris Saint-Germain as number four. We also have some English teams other than City who are quite good. Liverpool and Chelsea. Also, there is Barcelona. They are sort of in the same row.”

Haaland’s time at Borussia Dortmund was also marked by constant speculation, with their sporting director Sebastian Kehl suggesting it made the striker a “burden in the dressing room.”

Kehl previously said to Sport Bild: “As much as we always loved Haaland and he was successful with us, in the end, he became a burden on the dressing room, the club and the whole environment.

“He had become the subject of every conversation. Outside the club, almost everything was exclusively focused on him. In the end, the timing of the transfer was right for both parties. And we are all happy for Erling that he continues to be so successful.”