Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe are both big targets for Real Madrid heading into 2022 and some are wondering how they both can play in the same team.
Haaland, presently of Borussia Dortmund is bound to have a long queue of suitors next summer when his release clause of 75 million euros becomes active. While he did respect the Bundesliga giants this summer and stayed put for another season despite interest from Real Madrid and Chelsea, the case may be different a year later when the Dortmund board has little power.
Mbappe on the other hand was unable to sign for Real Madrid this summer despite his desire to do so and the Spanish side’s best efforts. Paris Saint-Germain remained hellbent on holding onto him and are still keen on convincing him to stay. However, the French forward seems determined to play for the Whites and his dream seems to be a bigger priority than money.
Los Blancos have at least another year before they can potentially house one of them and at least four more months before they can discuss a free arrival and pre-contract agreement with Mbappe. Nonetheless, the fans are already dreaming about Real Madrid signing not one, but both of them next summer and in light of that, here are three reasons why those two can co-exist.
BOTH PLAYERS HAVE WINNING PERSONALITIES
Kylian Mbappe has tasted success since a young age, having won the Ligue 1 in four of the last five seasons and grabbing a World Cup under his belt at the age of 19. He also is not like any of the present-day youngsters who are into living a luxurious life on massive pay-checks and that is extremely clear by the way Mbappe conducts himself on social media and the pitch as well.
Erling Haaland on the other hand has an agent who is notorious for demanding big fees, but the player in himself is also born with a winning mentality and his interviews and body language on the pitch are enough testimony to that. With that said, he has also been very respectful to Dortmund this summer and that is a virtue that is rare to come by in most players these days.
Haaland and Mbappe aren’t like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, who have a clear focus on their individual achievements and had so since the time they started to have the world at their feet. If Ronaldo went to Barca or Messi went to Real Madrid, their individual interests would clash but the same cannot be said about Mbappe or Haaland, whose main priority is clearly the team.
BOTH DREAM OF REAL MADRID TRANSFERS
While neither Erling Haaland nor Kylian Mbappe have yet spoken a word about Real Madrid in public, the media at the very least has made it look like both want to play for Real Madrid sooner or later. In addition to that, Los Blancos are a bigger and more alluring club than Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain for players who want to win and only win in their careers.
Mbappe and Haaland idolized Cristiano Ronaldo, who forged his legacy as a Real Madrid player and is remembered more his exploits with the Merengues than with Juventus or Manchester United. For that reason, they both would want to play for Real Madrid and this is their best opportunity with the limelight at the club also on them due to a need for Ronaldo’s replacement.
Both players know that if they sign for Real Madrid, the Whites will be able to attract youngsters from other different positions for the longer future and can possibly replicate their most recent Champions League success like the threepeat. Needless to say, it is also the best place for a player to win the Ballon d’Or and hence, it is fair to say that all stars are aligned for them to be together.
BOTH PLAYERS ARE OF A DIFFERENT POSITION
When Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United, one of the key reasons why he did not join Barcelona was his clashing profile with that of Lionel Messi. Both players were brilliant on the ball, brilliant dribbles, and magnificent on set pieces too. Ronaldo is a true goal poacher now, but that was not the case 12 years ago when he made the move from England to Spain from Old Trafford.
Haaland is an out-and-out goal-scorer and prefers to play in a central role. Aerial prowess is his key and he is not as effective in the areas outside the box as he is inside it. While he is also a very pacey player, the Norwegian prodigy lacks the dribbling to beat players which makes him only a very lethal goal-scorer and for that reason, a bit lower-rated than his counterpart in Mbappe.
On the other hand, Mbappe is a winger and is more of an all-around player. The French international is fantastic on the ball and his main and better goal-scoring attributes come from out wide as he surges inward and aims at goal- moreover, his heading abilities are not on the same level as Haaland.