Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé pairing remains Real Madrid’s enduring dream | OneFootball

Real Madrid still dream of pairing Erling Haaland with Kylian Mbappé, despite the hurdles, as they host Manchester City in Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 first leg. According to L'Équipe, the idea has not faded.

Haaland is not in peak form but should start at the Bernabeu. The Spanish capital often brings out his best. With City he has never lost there, and on 10 December he converted a penalty to seal a 2-1 win.

Florentino Pérez may have rued not moving earlier. In autumn 2024, soon after Real’s 15th European crown, the Saudi Pro League chased Vinicius and Madrid sketched a plan with Mbappé on the left and Haaland through the middle.

Vinicius stayed and only Mbappé arrived. After sounding out Haaland’s camp, Real learned that his ultimate dream is to wear their white shirt.

That was a second pursuit after hesitating to meet a €75m clause at Borussia Dortmund in summer 2021. Any third move would cost more, as the Premier League’s top scorer, 25 with 22 goals, has extended to June 2034 on about €2.6m gross a month. The new deal contains a release clause, amount undisclosed, and whether Real could trigger it is unclear.

For now the idea is parked. Vinicius will have one year left at season’s end and has yet to renew, so Madrid are not closing the Haaland file, still tempted by a Mbappé-Haaland pairing reminiscent of the early 2000s Galacticos. At Real, nothing is ruled out, particularly if they end the season without a major trophy.

Mbappé and Haaland are cordial rather than close, they share Nike and a mutual friend, Rayan Cherki, and once met by chance at Le Bourget. Their clubs have met three times in the past two seasons, both started together only on 11 February 2025, a 3-2 Real win in the play-offs first leg. Mbappé is out on Wednesday with a left knee problem, though they are due to face each other on 26 June in New York at the World Cup.

Source: L'Équipe