Speculation remains regarding the future of Norwegian wunderkind and Borussia Dortmund goal machine Erling Haaland as the centre-forward looks destined to leave Ruhr valley in the summer.

Haaland has been one of the hottest goalscoring properties across Europe since he first stole the show for Red Bull Salzburg before getting his move to the Westfalenstadion during the winter pause in 2019-20. Since then, the Leeds-born Norwegian star has smashed 56-goals in just 57-appearances in the Bundesliga, and is widely expected to make the jump to either the Premier League or La Liga in the upcoming transfer period.

But Barcelona icon and current Blaugrana centre-back Gerard Pique has poured fuel on the bitter rivalry that exists between Barça and Real Madrid with his recent comments, stating that Haaland should not join Los Blancos if he has aspirations of ever securing a Ballon d’Or win.

Pique with some advice for Haaland pic.twitter.com/LDCaLl8dON

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 2, 2022

When speaking with Football Espana, Pique was direct in his assessment when he stated “If I were Haaland and I wanted to win the Ballon d’Or, I wouldn’t go to the same team as Mbappé.”

Potential for Real Madrid attacking partnership in doubt

Naturally, a Barcelona icon like Gerard Pique would hardly want his bitter rivals to secure both the services of Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland in the same summer, but there is every chance that the capital outfit could achieve just that.

Mbappé has already agreed to join Madrid this summer on a free transfer according to Sports Illustrated citing a report in Bild.

Real has been credited with a serious interest in Haaland in the upcoming summer along with a host of other top clubs across the continent – including Barcelona – but the potential for a star-studded duo such as this forming an attacking partnership in the Spanish capital may have taken a hit after claims have emerged that the deal for Mbappé ends any interest that Real once had in the Norwegian.

On that basis alone, Pique could well avoid lining up against Haaland in an El Clasico, but it also potentially opens the door for the club to make a push for the Dortmund star if they deem a move viable in the wake of securing Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on deadline day.