The headline is a bit redundant; Haaland would walk into any team and make them better. Real Madrid are no exception.
But one moment in last night’s defeat to Liverpool emphasised that Madrid need a conventional number nine.
Álvaro Carreras picked up the ball at the edge of the box, dribbled through the Liverpool defence and laid off a delectable pass across the six yard box. Erling Haaland would have been there to tap it in – Mbappé was standing at the edge of the box waiting for a cutback.
Mbappé isn’t a number nine, and it will continue to cost Madrid in Europe.
Madrid’s Problem
Real Madrid boast two of the finest left-sided forwards in world football.
Any manager would dream of having either Kylian Mbappé or Vinícius Júnior; but both in the same side?
It’s a problem Carlo Ancelotti never fully solved, and while Xabi Alonso seems to have found a system that works in La Liga, the Champions League presents a tougher test.
To accommodate both stars, Madrid sacrifice a natural number nine. On the biggest European nights, that absence can prove decisive.
Goalscoring isn’t the issue. The numbers prove that. Kylian Mbappé has 18 goals in 15 appearances in 2025/26, Vinícius Júnior has 5. At least one of the pair have scored in every La Liga game this season.
The problem is the lack of diversity of chance creation; last night highlighted how one-dimensional Madrid can be made to look. Liverpool’s midfield dominated the middle of the park and gave Arda Güler no time or space to create. The Turkish playmaker has been instrumental in threading balls through to Madrid’s forwards. With that supply line cut, they were short of ideas; failing to register a shot on target until the brink of half-time.
What Could Change
Some of Mbappé’s best football has come from the left wing next to a big, physical striker. In the 2022 World Cup, France deployed Olivier Giroud to hold the ball up and to occupy the centre-backs, creating space for Mbappé to thrive. Giroud also provided a different outlet up top, offering a diversity of attacking options that meant France were dangerous on the counter attack, in possession and from set-pieces.
If Real Madrid followed suit and deployed Kylian Mbappé as a left-winger, his historic form indicates that his goal contributions would likely remain at a similar output. Whilst it would mean sacrificing Vinícius Júnior from the starting XI, this loss would be compensated by the introduction of a conventional number nine, who would be expected to contribute at a better statistical goalscoring rate than the Brazilian whilst also offering a different dimension to the attacking play.
The Dream Signing
If Alonso could sign any player – past or present – a prime Karim Benzema would be the dream choice. His link-up play, positioning and selflessness got the best out of Cristiano Ronaldo, just as it would Kylian Mbappé.
Harry Kane would have been ideal; his historic partnership with Son Heung-min and current success with Luis Díaz makes for a scary thought of how well he’d have worked with Mbappé.
That leaves one fantasy Galáctico; Erling Haaland.
Haaland offers a very different proposition to Benzema or Kane. The Norwegian’s link-up play is very much a secondary aspect of his game. He wouldn’t be joining to feed Mbappé directly, instead he’d be the bulldozer creating the space needed for the Frenchman to work his own magic. Haaland playing off the last man, Mbappé with free reign over the left wing and Bellingham making his trademark late runs into the box; Madrid would be scoring goals for fun.
Is It Realistic?
Haaland is contracted to Manchester City until he is 34, and consistently expresses his love for the club and Pep Guardiola. He isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
But if Guardiola were to leave, the doorway could open slightly ajar and Haaland could look to explore his options elsewhere. Real Madrid would be one of a very small group of clubs with the financial might to secure his signature, especially if they sold Vinícius Júnior for top dollar.
However, even if all parties were keen for a deal, the timings are unlikely to work out.
Pep’s City rebuild is underway and neither he nor Haaland look close to leaving. Madrid’s need for a world-class striker is evident and immediate. Vinícius Júnior’s comments after El Clásico show the thought of leaving Madrid is clearly on his mind.
Madrid need a striker, but shouldn’t waste Mbappé’s prime chasing after Erling Haaland.
