The Berna boy

HAAL LOOKS AT HOME IN MADRID

ERLING HAALAND had a glimpse into his own future in the Spanish capital this week.

And he must have liked what he saw.

There is no stadium in the world quite like the Bernabeu – and it remains one of those special places the game’s special stars should make their footballing home at least once in their careers.

Which is what Haaland is expected to do later down the line, provided Real bosses get their own way.

And let’s be honest, they generally do.

Haaland has lots to achieve in Manchester first, before he even contemplates moving to Madrid.

Starting with helping Manchester City beat his long-time suitors and reigning kings of Europe in Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final, second leg showdown at the Etihad.

But standing between Pep Guardiola’s men and a place in the final is a striker who might just be one of a few on the planet Haaland should aspire to be like.

Karim Benzema didn’t have his best game in the first leg, it has to be said.

But what Haaland still saw was a forward who continues to live and breathe the love of Real’s passionate and adoring fans, despite having nothing left to achieve in the game.

Benzema (right) joined Real back in 2009 and spent countless seasons living in Cristiano Ronaldo’s shadow.

But he put up with it because he couldn’t contemplate leaving the place – and also knew the time would come when he would be the team’s leader and talisman.

And it did. Carlo Ancelotti made him captain in 2021 and since then he has gone on to break records and reach milestones, despite being well into his 30s.

Last season he won a fifth Champions League title, finished the competition’s top scorer and was awarded the Ballon d’Or in October to crown what has now become one of the greatest club careers of all time. Nine of the top 10 appearance makers for Real are Spanish, with the exception of Benzema, who is also second only to Ronaldo when it comes to the most goals scored in the club’s history.

Has there been a more underrated forward in modern times than the Frenchman?

Perhaps not, but Haaland is a student of the game and should appreciate what his rival has achieved.

He will also appreciate he could also be Real royalty one day, just like Benzema now is.

Haaland is only 22, has his whole career ahead of him and loves the thought of what he can win in English football with Pep Guardiola.

But while Haaland is going nowhere for the foreseeable, should he win a Treble this season it will never get better than that.

And he knows Guardiola won’t be at the Etihad forever.

Once he’s gone what will stop the Norwegian from being able to resist the lure of life in the Spanish capital?

The answer is nothing

– and no one should blame him when that moment comes.

Because if one place is built for his remarkable talents, it’s the Bernabeu.

IF LIONEL MESSI had anything about him he’d tell the Saudis where to stick their blood money. And if Messi (left) still thinks he can cut it at the highest level, like his dad claims, he wouldn’t even VINI VIDI VICI? Haaland with Vinicius Jr. He could conquer the Bernabeu with Madrid the meaning of the word. Messi has reportedly been offered £435m-a-year to join a club most people have never heard of (Al-Hilal). But this is a bloke who has already earned himself close to £1billion during one of the they started? How much cash does one man need, for goodness sake? He once supposedly offered to play for his beloved Catalans for free after his last contract ended. So, how about it now?