Gerard Pique to Erling Haaland: If you want the Ballon d'Or, do not join the same team as Kylian Mbappe

Erling Haaland would be better off not joining the same team as Kylian Mbappe if both young stars move clubs in the summer, says Gerard Pique. The transfer sagas surrounding Haaland and Mbappe show no sign of abating, with Mbappe repeatedly linked with Real Madrid and Haaland with a wider spread of Europe's very best sides, including Real.

Ad/> But if Haaland is to achieve the ultimate individual ambition for many footballers — the Ballon d'Or — Pique has advised him of his best move. Premier League'I'm here to show the best part of Dele' — Alli hails Lampard as «perfect» manager for him16 HOURS AGO 'There's no deadline' — Dortmund CEO rubbishes Haaland pressure claim Morientes: Mbappe will play for Real Madrid next season 'We want him to stay many years' — Pochettino on Mbappe transfer speculation «If I were Haaland and I wanted to win the Ballon d’Or, I wouldn’t go to the same team as Mbappe,” Pique told Ibai Llanos on Twitch.

It's hard not to see Pique's comments through his Barcelona lens, and perhaps he intended them as a subtle prod to the Norwegian to join his club rather than head to Madrid. Whether the Blaugrana can afford the huge salary and transfer fee that the 21-year-old would command is another question.

They also seem well-stocked in forward areas for now at least, having signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ferran Torres and Adama Traore in the transfer window, with those three forwards competing with the likes of Ansu Fati, Martin Braithwaite, Memphis Depay and Ousmane Dembele — even if the latter duo's futures in Catalonia remain in doubt. Pique discussed other matters in a wide-ranging, informal chat with influencer Llanos, including his possible future life as Barcelona president.