5 players who will play for Real Madrid or Barcelona in the future

Widely regarded as two of the biggest clubs in world football, Real Madrid and Barcelona have had a long list of iconic players over the years. The La Liga giants been dominant forces in the modern era and have won trophies aplenty, be it domestically or in Europe.

Most up and coming footballers — South Americans in particular — dream of playing for Real Madrid or Barcelona at some point in their career. In recent years, the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Eden Hazard have fulfilled their ambitions of representing the European giants, while Kylian Mbappe is someone who looks destined to do so in the coming years.

Under the presidency of Florentino Perez, Real Madrid's Galacticos model took world football by storm in the early 2000s. The likes of Luis Figo, Ronaldo Nazario, Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham joined the club at the time and several top players have followed their footsteps.

Barcelona are also no strangers to big-money signings of global superstars, with Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho all joining the club in recent years. On that note, here are five players who are sure to ply to represent one of Real Madrid or Barcelona in the coming years.

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#5 Jadon Sancho | Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund v Hertha BSC - Bundesliga

A top transfer target for Manchester United this summer, Jadon Sancho is one of the most sought-after players in world football. The Englishman has been a consistent presence for Dortmund since making a name for himself over two years ago and is already one of the biggest matchwinners in the game.

Primarily a right-winger, Sancho is blessed with outstanding dribbling ability and ball control, while he also capable of picking teammates out with incredible accuracy with his pinpoint crosses.

The 20-year-old is the complete package from the wide areas and has shown that he can score goals and provide assists in equal measure. Sancho could still move to Manchester United this summer, but it has been reported that he has keen admirers at Real Madrid.

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#4 Matthijs de Ligt | Juventus

Atletico Madrid v Juventus: Group D - UEFA Champions League

Matthijs de Ligt was heavily linked with a move to Barcelona last summer before he sealed a switch to Juventus from boyhood club Ajax. The towering centre back is one of the best defenders in his age group and has also earned praise for his leadership qualities, having captained an exciting Ajax team at the tender age of 19.

Blessed with an excellent ability to read the game, De Ligt is a clean tackler of the ball and is capable of starting plays out from the back. The Dutchman is already an experienced campaigner despite being just 21 years of age and is a key player for club and country.

While Barcelona already came close to signing him last summer, Real Madrid could turn to him when they begin their search for a Sergio Ramos replacement.

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#3 Erling Haaland | Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund v Paris Saint-Germain - UEFA Champions League Round of 16: First Leg

Hailed as one of the most potent goalscorers in Europe, Erling Haaland's rise to stardom in the past 12 months has been extraordinary.

The Norwegian striker burst onto the scene at Molde with a series of eye-catching displays and earned himself a move to Red Bull Salzburg, where he turned heads in Europe with his goalscoring exploits.

Haaland's towering frame makes him a handful for defenders to deal with and he is also a lethal finisher in and around the penalty area. Additionally, the 19-year-old is deceptively quick and is capable of timing his runs to perfection to make his way past the opposition backline.

Borussia Dortmund snapped him for a bargain fee in January 2019, as Haaland chose the Bundesliga as the ideal place to continue his development. Real Madrid are reportedly monitoring his situation and could make a move for him when they decide to secure a long-term replacement for Karim Benzema.

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#2 Lautaro Martinez | Inter Milan

FC Barcelona v FC Internazionale: Group F - UEFA Champions League

Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez is reportedly a top target for Barcelona this summer and could secure a switch to the Camp Nou in the coming months. The Argentine striker is keen to play alongside idol and compatriot Lionel Messi, with the pair enjoying a fruitful relationship with the national team.

Martinez is a mobile striker and has a knack of getting involved in his team's build-up play, while he has also shown that he is typically deadly in front of goal. The young striker has complemented Romelu Lukaku efficiently and is enjoying his best season in Inter colours, as he continues to be linked with big-money moves this summer.

With Luis Suarez approaching the twilight years of his career and Antoine Griezmann not hitting the ground running, Martinez could be the answer to Barcelona's attacking woes.

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#1 Kylian Mbappe | Paris Saint-Germain

Manchester United v Paris Saint-Germain - UEFA Champions League Round of 16: First Leg

Kylian Mbappe is the most envied youngster in world football and is a primary target for Real Madrid. The Frenchman grew up idolizing Cristiano Ronaldo and looks set to represent Los Blancos at some point in his career, with Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane also a massive fan of the player.

Dubbed as one of the greatest talents of his generation, Mbappe has drawn comparisons with the likes of Ronaldo Nazario and Thierry Henry for his style of play and exploits at such a young age.

A gifted dribbler with devastating pace to burn, Mbappe is also blessed with outstanding movement off the ball and a keen eye for goal. The 21-year-old has already won four league titles and the FIFA World Cup at such a young age and is on his way to becoming one of the greats of the game.

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