After missing out on signing Erling Haaland, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez insists the striker is only good enough for the bench.
Champions League winners Madrid was among several clubs interested in signing Haaland from Borussia Dortmund this summer.
However, Manchester City eventually won the race to sign the Norway international, paying only £51 million after triggering a release clause in his Dortmund contract.
It was Madrid’s second major summer transfer market setback after top target Kylian Mbappe turned down a move to the Bernabeu to stay at Paris Saint-Germain.
Perez claims Madrid were never seriously interested in Haaland and that if he did join, the 21-year-old would only be good enough for a bench spot, with Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema currently starting up front for Real.
“We have the best 9 in the world and we weren’t going to bring Haaland to have him on the bench,” Perez told El Chiringuito.
