BREAKING: Man City Issue Erling Haaland Statement After Real Madrid ‘Agreement’ Announcement
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Erling Haaland has long been linked with a move to Real Madrid and despite one of the Spanish club’s presidential candidates vowing to sign him, it appears that a move is just a pipe dream
Manchester City have threatened legal action after claims Real Madrid will sign Erling Haaland should Enrique Riquelme win their presidential election. The Spanish giants are currently in the process of electing their new president.
Club members will choose between long-serving president Florentino Perez, 79, and Riquelme in a special vote on Sunday. Heading into that vote, the latter had guaranteed to complete a deal for Manchester City forward Haaland.
“If I break my promises regarding either of these players, I’ve signed a guarantee where I’d pay 100 per cent of membership costs for next season,” Riquelme said. “Haaland has a release clause, and he wants to come to Madrid.”
City have now spoken out and have not taken kindly to Riquelme’s claims. A statement from a City spokesperson read: “The stories which have emerged from Spain regarding the future of Erling Haaland are untrue. There is no chance of this happening and there is no contractual clause to enable it. We are considering legal action for the use of our player image in this context.”
City’s statement comes after equally strong comments from the Norwegian striker’s representatives. In a joint statement, his agent Rafaela Pimenta and his dad Alfie Haaland said: “All very entertaining but not true. We wish all the best for both candidates in the Madrid elections”.
Haaland has regularly been linked with a move to Real Madrid during his time at the Etihad Stadium, with claims that they could look to activate a release clause written into his deal. But the striker underlined his commitment to City in January last year by signing a new nine-and-a-half year deal.
Haaland, 25, joined the club from Borussia Dortmund in 2022 and he has gone on to score an eye-watering 162 goals since – 38 of which came this season. He is not the only Man City star that Riquelme has promised to sign this summer should he be successful.
Spanish midfielder Rodri is also on his shortlist and Riquelme confirmed that discussions over a move to the Bernabeu have already been held. He said: “He’s a great player, in a position where Madrid need to strengthen.
Rafaela Pimenta
Rafaela Pimenta has clarified Erling Haaland’s future
“We’ve spoken to his agent, we have to respect his club, but if I’m president he’ll play for Madrid. I’ll do everything possible.”
Rodri however has remained quiet on a potential deal and suggested that he would clarify his future after the World Cup. Speaking in a press conference, he said: “With a World Cup ahead, my responsibility is to stay focused. Anything related to my future will wait until after the World Cup.”
He added: “When a player is approaching the final stage of his contract, it’s normal for names to be mentioned. “I’m very calm, I know exactly where I stand, and I’ll tell you that perhaps if there hadn’t been a World Cup, things might be different now.”
