Haaland can’t hide Real admiration

Champions League games at the Bernabéu are a true soccer showcase. They’re matches of major consequence, both because of what happens on the field - and what happens off it.

They spark talk in the locker room that often leads to major signings - or at least serious attempts - as agents, scouts, and sporting directors gather around the iconic Madrid venue.

Haaland drops Real hints

More than once, a player’s career trajectory has changed dramatically after a standout performance in Europe’s top competition at the Bernabéu. Robert Lewandowski, Kylian Mbappé and many others have experienced that.

Players also make their future intentions clear through gestures or statements. After Real Madrid’s clash with Manchester City on Wednesday, Erling Haaland once again dropped hints about why his new contract with the Premier League club includes what’s been dubbed a ‘freedom clause’.

The Norwegian striker couldn’t hide his admiration for the Bernabéu, calling it one of his favorite stages and saying he always enjoys playing there. Later, he praised the competitive spirit of players like Raúl Asencio and Antonio Rüdiger, with whom he battled fiercely throughout City’s 2-1 win in the Spanish capital.

A release clause built in

That word, ‘freedom’, refers to a contractual detail that Haaland insists on: the option to leave whenever he feels the time is right. City’s executives understood this perfectly. On one hand, they gave him what every top player craves - status as the team’s centerpiece. A salary above the rest, but more importantly, the feeling of being the leader.

On the other hand, they knew securing his signature required including a release clause that Haaland himself could activate. The catch? It never applies to Premier League clubs. That’s a trademark move from Rafaela Pimenta, his current agent, who continues the legacy of the late Mino Raiola in this regard.

Haaland now has eight and a half seasons ahead of him - the term he requested and City granted. Combined with the exit clause, the control is entirely in his hands. And truth be told, he looks happy, more integrated than in previous years. He’s the master of his own future, and all the while he keeps sending signals Madrid’s way.

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