Haaland to Real Madrid « in two or three years », says former Dortmund chief

Erling Haaland will join Real Madrid « in two or three years »: that is the conviction of Hans-Joachim Watzke, former Borussia Dortmund president, expressed in an interview with Spanish daily AS on the sidelines of the 2026 World Cup.

« Erling loves Real Madrid and makes no secret of it. I think that with time, in two or three years, he will play there, but not now. His time will come. He has not committed to anyone, as his father said, » Watzke declared, who worked alongside the Norwegian striker during his time at BvB.

Real Madrid’s interest in Haaland is not new. Madrid has been monitoring the goalscorer since his early days at Molde at age 16, and the 25-year-old striker has never hidden his attraction to the Maison Blanche.

Watzke’s statement comes as Haaland is going through one of the most accomplished tournaments of his international career. Author of seven goals with Norway at the 2026 World Cup, including a brace against Brazil in the round of 16, he is establishing himself as one of the great names of the competition.

An immediate transfer remains unlikely, however. In January 2025, Haaland extended his contract with Manchester City until June 2034, committing himself to nine additional years with the Citizens. Any short-term operation would require complex negotiations with the Manchester club, which has shown no sign of wanting to part with its star striker.