Madrid [Spain], May 14 (ANI): Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has left fans vague about the potential signing of Manchester City star striker Erling Haaland, saying that it is the job of sporting management to make it happen.
Florentino was speaking to LaSexta in an interview that came days after they lost to arch-rivals Barcelona, which enabled the latter to seal a back-to-back La Liga title.
There have been a lot of speculations linking Haaland with the Spanish giants, despite having already signed a contract extension all the way till 2034. The Norway superstar is in excellent form this season, with 37 goals and eight assists this season in 50 appearances and remains instrumental to his side’s Premier League and FA Cup hopes.
Since his 60 million euros arrival from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, Haaland has taken the Premier League and English football by storm, scoring 161 goals and delivering 29 assists for the multi-time Premier League champions, even leading them to a treble in 2023.
Speaking during the interview, as quoted by Goal.com, he was asked about the possibility of bringing Haaland to Real Madrid directly. But he was rather vague, pointing out the club’s rich history of signing superstars and keeping himself out of all decision-making regarding the move.
“Well, of course. There have always been signings; we have always signed the best. I have signed Figo, Kaka, Ronaldo ‘The Phenomenon’, Beckham… When there is a good one, I go for him,” he said.
On being asked about Haaland, he said, “Haaland? I do not give an opinion on that. It is a job for the sporting management; I do not get involved in the sporting management.”
He also went on to address the rumours of a Jose Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid after being a manager from 2010-13. After the dismissal of Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa took charge of the club till season’s end, but the club ended their run without any major titles, exiting in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League.
He has dismissed all the chatter of Mourinho being chosen by him to be the next in line.
“How annoying with Mourinho. I did not even speak with Mourinho when he came here to play with Benfica,” Perez insisted.
“It is not true. The one who knows the least about coaches in the club is me,” he signed off. (ANI)
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