Borussia Dortmund chief Hans-Joachim Watzke has revealed Erling Haaland has a soft spot for Real Madrid.
The goalscoring phenom continues to dominate the Bundesliga and bully defenders for the Westphalians, and has been linked to just about every elite club worth their salt, with a bidding war expected to take place for his signature in the not too distant future.
For BVB, the Norway international has netted 68 times in just 67 games across all competitions, though he himself recently admitted that he “does not score enough goals”, which just about sums up the insatiable appetite he has for finding the back of the net.
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Dortmund has long been one of the most productive hotbeds for young footballers, but too often the club has been considered a checkpoint, or stepping stone to the truly elite in Europe, hence the constant speculation about Haaland’s future.
The likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, PSG and Real Madrid have all been credited with an interest in the forward’s signature, but according to BVB chief Watzke, it is the latter whom Haaland has been most ‘seduced’ by.
Watzke said: “He is an independent personality.
“Anyway, at some point he will play for one of the best clubs in the world, although he is already playing for one of the best clubs in the world.
“But I know, of course, that Real Madrid seduces him.”
Whether Real court the marksman could hinge on their pursuit of PSG forward Kylian Mbappe, whom Florentino Perez attempted to land in the summer, only to see his overtures rebuffed by the French heavyweights, but the World Cup winner currently has less than 12 months left on his contract.
As such, the Spaniards could sign the 22-year-old on a free transfer next summer if he doesn’t renew his stay at the Parc des Princes, which would ultimately make a deal to sign Haaland unlikely, though it remains uncertain where Mbappe’s future lies.