FC Barcelona veteran defender, Gerard Pique has urged Borussia Dortmund striker, Erling Haaland not to join Kylian Mbappe at Real Madrid if he wants to stand a chance of winning the Ballon d’Or.
Recall that in the just-concluded January transfer widow, Kylian Mbappe reportedly agreed on a pre-contract agreement with Real Madrid. This means that once his contract expires on June 30, 2022, he would leave Paris Saint Germain for Real Madrid on a free transfer.
Reports claimed that Mbappe could earn nothing less than €50 million per year if he finally switch from PSG to Real Madrid next summer.
Even though Real Madrid have secured the signature of the 21-year-old French striker, the Spanish La Liga side are reportedly pushing to secure the signature of Erling Haaland.
Unlike Mbappe whose contract with PSG will expire on June 30, 2022, Haaland reportedly has a release clause in his contract which permits him to join any club of his choice that can pay at least £63 million in the coming summer transfer window.
Haaland’s agent, Mino Raiola said earlier in the season that there is a high chance that Haaland would leave Dortmund this coming summer. The super-agent mentioned clubs like Manchester City, FC Barcelona, or Real Madrid as one of the clubs the Norwegian striker could join next summer.
Before it was reported that Mbappe has already agreed to join Real Madrid, the Spanish club was said to be the most likely destination for Haaland. Even after the report, Real Madrid is still seen as the next club Haaland might end up playing for.
Gerard Pique who turned 35-year-old on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, feels it would be a wrong idea for Haaland and Mbappe to play at the same club.
Most football pundits believe that Mbappe and Haaland could be the next big rivals in the football world. They are seen as the direct replacement for the aging Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United and Lionel Messi of PSG.
Hence, Gerard Pique believes that such rivalry might not fully materialize if the two youngsters end up at the same club. Pique who has won 35 major titles including four UEFA Champions League titles believes that it might be difficult for Haaland to win the prestigious Ballon d’Or if he plays at Real Madrid alongside Mbappe.
“If I were Haaland and I wanted to win the Ballon d’Or, I wouldn’t go to the same team as Kylian Mbappe“, Gerard Pique told Twitch via Football Espana.
Haaland whose contract with Borussia Dortmund will officially expire on June 30, 2024, has scored 23 goals and provided 6 assists in 20 games in all competitions for the German Bundesliga side.
While Mbappe whose contract with PSG will officially expire on June 30, 2022, has scored 19 goals and provided 16 assists in 29 games in all competitions.
A defender with every attribute in the book. @3gerardpique is 35 today! 🥳#UCL pic.twitter.com/K8QkQ83UOg
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 2, 2022
