Real Madrid made contact with the representatives of Erling Haaland as they explore the possibility of a sensational transfer in 2026.
The Spanish giants have never hidden their admiration for the Manchester City striker, and fresh reports suggest that they may finally be preparing to make their long-standing interest official.
Madrid Renew Pursuit of Their Long-Term Target
Erling Haaland’s rise to global superstardom has been meteoric since his breakthrough years at Borussia Dortmund. His extraordinary goalscoring exploits attracted Europe’s biggest clubs, and Real Madrid were among the first to express concrete interest. However, the striker chose Manchester City in 2022, where his career has reached staggering heights under Pep Guardiola.
Since arriving at the Etihad, Haaland has shattered numerous records, scoring at an unprecedented rate and becoming the focal point of City’s attack.
In his debut season, he inspired Guardiola’s side to an historic treble — winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League — while claiming multiple individual accolades along the way.
Most recently, the 24-year-old added a fourth Premier League Player of the Month award after a blistering September in which he scored five league goals and surpassed the 130-goal mark for the club. His consistency and efficiency in front of goal have placed him firmly among the greatest finishers in the modern game.
Yet despite his dominance in England, rumours about Haaland’s future continue to swirl. The idea that he might one day test himself in La Liga has persisted, fuelled by the admiration both his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, and his agent have publicly expressed for Spanish football.
According to a new report from CaughtOffside’s Mark Brus, Real Madrid made contact with the representatives of Erling Haaland to gauge his openness to a potential transfer. The discussions are understood to be preliminary, aimed at assessing the striker’s long-term plans rather than initiating formal negotiations.
Manchester City Remain Calm but Madrid Relentless
Manchester City, however, remain firmly in control of the situation. Haaland’s contract runs until the summer of 2034, making him one of the most secure assets in world football.
Sources close to the Etihad suggest that the club has no intention of entertaining offers, while the player himself is said to be “fully focused” on continuing his development under Guardiola.
The report indicates that even though City obviously do not want to sell and Haaland himself is not pushing to leave, Real Madrid are unlikely to abandon their pursuit easily. The article adds that any deal would surely need crazy money to persuade Manchester City to even consider a sale — and would almost certainly require Haaland to make a push for the move himself.
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This is not the first time Real Madrid have tested the waters with the striker’s camp. Insiders believe that Los Blancos have maintained informal contact with Haaland’s entourage since his debut season in the Premier League, quietly monitoring his progress and contract situation.
The feeling within the Santiago Bernabéu hierarchy is that Haaland could be the “final piece” in their long-term attacking project alongside Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior.
At Manchester City, club executives remain confident. Those close to the team insist that Haaland is deeply committed to his role in Guardiola’s project and that his focus is on maintaining the high standards that have defined his career so far.
Even with Guardiola entering the final two years of his contract, there is a strong belief that the Norwegian striker’s loyalty lies with City’s vision.
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Nevertheless, the Premier League champions are aware that Real Madrid’s persistence can be difficult to ignore. The Spanish club has a long history of attracting global stars who initially appeared unattainable — from Cristiano Ronaldo to Gareth Bale and Jude Bellingham. If Los Blancos’ pursuit of Haaland intensifies, City may face the same challenge they once presented to Borussia Dortmund.
