Transfer: Michael Owen Names Player Blocking Haaland From Joining Real Madrid

Former Real Madrid player Michael Owen has identified Kylian Mbappe as the player who could prevent the Spanish club from signing Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.

Haaland has frequently been linked with a move to Real Madrid, having established himself as one of the leading forwards in world football.

However, Owen believes Real Madrid are unlikely to pursue the Norwegian while Mbappe remains at the club because both players prefer to operate in similar attacking positions.

ALSO READ:

• Transfer: Monaco To Terminate Pogba’s Contract
• Transfer: Alexis Sanchez’s New Club Confirmed

Speaking to Goal.com, Owen said Real Madrid would face difficulties accommodating Mbappe and Haaland in the same team.

“As long as they have Mbappe, I cannot envision them investing that amount.

“There are already doubts about whether Vini Junior and Mbappe can function together since Mbappe tends to favor the left side; this is already under scrutiny. If it were Mbappe and Haaland, how would they accommodate both? Would they position Mbappe on the left?

“In my opinion, it has to be one or the other. I do not believe it is feasible to have two of the arguably best centre-forwards in the world, Mbappe and Haaland, in the same squad.

“Considering the financial implications and the challenge of making it work… It would necessitate Mbappe’s departure for that to occur, I would assume.

“They have previously attempted the Galactico approach many years ago, in my era. Simply gathering exceptional players is not necessarily the solution,” he stated.

Haaland was previously linked with Real Madrid while playing for Borussia Dortmund but eventually joined Manchester City in 2022.

The move to England did not end speculation about a potential transfer to the Santiago Bernabéu, even after Haaland signed a 10-year contract with Manchester City in 2024.

Mbappe had long dreamed of playing for Real Madrid before joining the club as a free agent in the summer of 2024.

He has scored 86 goals in 103 appearances for the Spanish giants but is yet to win major silverware since his arrival.

Real Madrid already have several high-profile attacking players, including Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and Mbappe. The club have also spent more than €140 million on Yan Diomande this summer.

Those factors could make Real Madrid reluctant to spend heavily on another attacking player such as Haaland in the coming transfer windows.