Erling Haaland to use Champions League quarter-finals as Real Madrid audition

Erling Haaland will use Manchester City’s upcoming Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid to ‘show his credentials for a future move’, according to reports in Spain.

The striker signed for City in 2022 but has long been linked with a move to the Spanish capital either side of his 2022 transfer to the Etihad Stadium.

For a third-season running – a second while Haaland’s been at the club – City have been drawn against Madrid in the Champions League knockout stages.

AS report Haaland wants to use these upcoming games to prove his worth to Madrid, who are attempting to sign Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain this summer.

Madrid are after Mbappe instead / Catherine Steenkeste/GettyImages

Haaland is said to have been left dismayed by Los Blancos’ pursuit of Mbappe, believing there was a chance they could have tried to sign him instead due to a release clause in his contract.

City beat Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in last year’s semi-finals, but Haaland notably did not score any of his side’s goals. Kevin De Bruyne grabbed the visitors’ equaliser in a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu before a brace from Bernardo Silva plus goals from Manuel Akanji and Julian Alvarez saw City to a 4-0 win at the Etihad.

While Haaland is believed to dream of playing for Madrid, City are working hard to extend his contract with his current deal up in 2027. However, his agent – Rafaela Pimenta – wants to retain the release clause which would allow him to join Madrid for a set fee in future.

Madrid are open to having both Mbappe and Haaland on the same team, but recognise it would take a mighty financial effort to accommodate the pair.