According to a recent report by AS, Real Madrid are ideally placed to secure the services of Borussia Dortmund goal machine Erling Haaland. The same source has also claimed that Los Blancos president Florentino Pérez has a very good working relationship with Dortmund CEO Hans-Joaquim Watzke which could give the Spanish outfit an advantage in their efforts to land the Norwegian striker in the future. Plus, it is believed that Madrid youngster, Martin Ødegaard has done the ‘fieldwork’ as he is both friends and international colleagues with Haaland so he could tip the scales in his parent club’s favour in the race to sign the player (via AS).
Haaland’s Magnificent Start To Life At Dortmund
The talented teenager has firmly established himself amongst the best goal-getters in European football which is a remarkable feat for a forward of his age. He has been a breath of fresh air in the German Bundesliga so far after he announced himself to the world at RB Salzburg in the first half of this campaign. Lucien Favre decided to bring Haaland to the Signal Iduna Park back in the January transfer window, and it has paid enormous dividends for the club. The Norwegian prospect had banged in some incredible goals for the German side in recent months before the football world came to a standstill because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Haaland has registered 40 goals in 33 appearances for Salzburg and now, Dortmund while also providing nine assists for them in all competitions, which proves just how lethal he has been in the final third over the past nine months. He has averaged 2.4 shots, 0.6 key passes and 0.9 dribbles per game in the Bundesliga this season (stats via whoscored). The Norway international’s stats indicate that he excels at converting goal-scoring chances but doesn’t spend too much time on the ball and leaves most of the creative responsibilities to his teammates.
The former Molde youngster has still not opened his goal-scoring account for the Norwegian national side after featuring in two international matches for his country thus far. Haaland will play a vital role for his homeland in the UEFA European Champions qualifier versus Serbia which has been delayed as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
What Will The Norway International Add To Zidane’s Side?
Haaland has already become an accomplished finisher in the final third and has also bagged his fair share of assists this season which proves that he can be unselfish at times when his teammates are in a more advantageous position inside the opposition penalty box. The Norwegian can run the channels and stretch the opposition backline so that he can create a few pockets of spaces for the midfielders to exploit. Haaland has the potential to become a generational talent, but only if he can manage expectations and keep improving himself on the training ground every year.
The Leeds-born forward has all the makings of a future Galactico as he can inspire the next generation of youngsters into greater heights at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium if he opts to swap his yellow Dortmund jersey for a white Madrid one in the future. Haaland will not only add lots of goals to Zinedine Zidane’s frontline but also serve as a perfect long-term replacement for Karim Benzema, who is in the wrong side of his 30s.
At 19, the Bundesliga whizkid will only get better with age which the La Liga giants could look to benefit from in the years to come. All in all, Haaland’s acquisition could prove to be a clever piece of business for Los Blancos as he will be an ideal solution to all of their goal-scoring problems in the long-run.
