Owen: Mbappe likely to leave if Real Madrid sign Haaland

Owen believes that Mbappe and Haaland can hardly form a front line at the Bernabeu; it can only be one or the other.

Real Madrid is still keen on "Galactico"-style signings, but Owen told Goal that the possibility of Mbappe and Haaland appearing together in the Bernabeu's front line is very small. When both superstar strikers primarily play centrally, the reality is more likely to be "one or the other."

After years of transfer rumors, French international Mbappe finally joined Real Madrid as a free agent in the summer of 2024, leaving Paris Saint-Germain as their all-time leading scorer. Moving to La Liga was supposed to give the 27-year-old an opportunity to compete for major honors that had previously eluded him – such as the Champions League title and the Ballon d'Or – but Mbappe has yet to win either of these honors.

Mbappe has an extremely high goal-scoring efficiency at Real Madrid, scoring 86 goals in 103 appearances, but has not yet won a major trophy with the team. The news of Vinicius' contract extension has helped the team turn things around. Real Madrid is also expected to continue strengthening, with young striker Yann-Diomande joining for €140 million, and rumors about Norwegian striker Haaland have never stopped.

Haaland has a 10-year contract with Manchester City until 2034, but his father has left a back door open for a departure from the Etihad Stadium. The striker, who has scored 162 goals for the Premier League giants, might be interested in a new adventure in La Liga. Real Madrid is willing to negotiate for Haaland, but with Vinicius occupying the left flank and Mbappe central, how can another "Galactico"-level superstar be squeezed in?

When Owen was asked about the Haaland rumors, the former Real Madrid striker told reporters: "Now that they already have Mbappe, I don't think they will spend so much money. People are already questioning whether Vinicius and Mbappe can coexist because Mbappe likes to drift wide a little. If it's Mbappe and Haaland, how do you arrange them? Put Mbappe on the left? I think it can only be one or the other. To be honest, I don't think it's possible to have both Mbappe and Haaland, the two best central strikers in the world, at the same time. Cost is one aspect, but also making this lineup work... I think, unless Mbappe leaves, this won't happen. They tried the 'Galactico' route in my era, and just piling up stars isn't necessarily the answer."

Former Manchester City defender Lescott was also recently asked in an interview if Haaland might leave Manchester City for Real Madrid: "Even players in Manchester, English players, would be attracted by a club like Real Madrid. But when it comes to 'Galacticos,' they do sign superstars, but it's not always just by buying players; it requires a comprehensive consideration. Haaland won't be cheap; he is arguably one of the most crucial players in the Manchester City squad, and if Manchester City decides to sell, they will definitely consider this. They won't sell him because he scores few goals, so he will be in peak form, in one of the best teams in the world, and another Champions League contender still wants to buy him – the transfer fee won't be low. As for Haaland, I think Manchester City is in a good position right now, and he will stay there for quite a while in the future."

Haaland has a long-term contract with Manchester City, while Mbappe's contract with Real Madrid runs until 2029. There is no indication that he is preparing to leave Real Madrid for another team to pursue European honors. He is following in the footsteps of predecessors like Cristiano Ronaldo and will continue to wear the Real Madrid No. 10 jersey for the foreseeable future – meaning that if Haaland wants to leave the Premier League, he may need to explore other options.

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