With an entire season ahead, the market targets for the next season should be adjusted over the months. But in that new galactic roadmap marked in Madrid's offices there are four proper names that have become clear objectives. They are Mbappé, Haaland, Lewandowski and Pogba. The latter, United's French media, ends his contract and can reach zero cost. Mbappé must sign in January. And the question that arises is that of Haaland or Lewandowski, since it is one or the other.
Real Madrid's first option is to hire Haaland (21 years old) after signing Mbappé (22). But, as AS has been counting, that interest in the Norwegian is coincident with that of PSG if Mbappé leaves his squad. A tough bid will be raised in which Madrid cannot compete economically with the Qatar-owned entity, although, at least that yes, it has the will of the player in its favor, as is in its favor the good relationship between Borussia and the real Madrid.
Fortunately there is another big name on the market for next summer. And it is Lewandowski's (32). PSG himself probed his signing in the last market before the possibility that Mbappé was transferred to Madrid, which came to present three offers of 160, 180 and 200 million. But Bayern, as happened with Borussia and Haaland, refused to let him out. Next summer the situation is different for the Pole. It has a contract until 2023 with the Bavarian entity and will formally ask to leave. And entering his final season, he must do it at a reasonable price, even more so for a forward in his category.
Comparison between Haalan and Lewandowsky from 2020-21.
Therefore, for Madrid, after signing Mbappé in January, for the summer the situation will be defined as follows: 'Haaland or Lewandowski'. At 32, the Polish striker is in the prime of his career. He has been the best scorer on the continent in the last two seasons (55 and 48 goals respectively). As a Christian, he is obsessed with work. As a child, he self-imposed six hours a day in the gym to gain mass. “His legs were like sticks, it looked like he was going to split”, relates Sikorski, his first technician. His life was not without responsibilities either. His father, who had been a soccer player (and also a judoka), died of a heart attack when he was 15 years old, and he considered leaving football to take care of his family. He didn't and he was right. Lewandowski's mother was a professional athlete (she played volleyball for AZS Warszawa). His sister followed that same path and became an Under-21 international. His wife, Anna, is a karate fighter and a bronze medalist at the 2008 Tokyo World Cup. With this environment, it is not surprising that the player is obsessed with good nutrition. That ensures you can extend your career to a good level.
The Pole could be from Madrid.
Lewandowski was on the verge of signing for the white club in 2014, just before his transfer to Bayern was consummated, which he reached at zero cost from Borussia. The Pole had captivated Florentino in April 2013 when he made his way to the white team in the semifinals of the Champions League with a poker. Lewy had already committed to Bayern, but his representative at the time, Cezary Kucharski, even offered Madrid the possibility of paying the 20 million penalty clause to break with the Munich team and play at the Bernabéu. Lewandowski had given the green light. But Florentino did not see it clearly at the last moment and dismissed the idea.
Shortly after, the newspaperOnet Sport brought to light the contract that Madrid put on the table. Six seasons, with a gross salary of 8.6 million that would be paid twice: February 10 and July 10 of each year. In addition, by arriving for free, Lewandowski received on February 10, 2015 a transfer bonus of 11 million gross. After that, in 2016, Lewandowski and Madrid tried again but I ended up renewing. Next summer a new chapter will be written if PSG sign Haaland …