Real Madrid remain quietly confident that Kylian Mbappe will join them this summer but Manchester City signing Erling Haaland removes their Galatico alternative and leaves them trying not to ponder the consequences of going for both and ending up with neither.
Their interest in Haaland was never all-in, as it has been for Mbappe. In part that was down to the incredible form of Karim Benzema.
The 34-year-old has established himself as a firm candidate for the Ballon d’Or and is very much Real Madrid’s No 9.
Mbappe’s arrival will not leave the manager having to change his system to accommodate both because he will play on one wing with Vinicius on the other and Benzema through the middle.