Manchester City has firmly stated that Erling Haaland will not leave the club under any circumstances following Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme’s promise to sign the striker. The Norwegian forward’s family and representatives also quickly issued an official statement to clarify the situation.
The race for the Real Madrid presidency is heating up ahead of the election. Candidate Enrique Riquelme grabbed headlines by announcing on television that Erling Haaland and Rodri would be his star signings if elected. Riquelme even pledged to pay the membership fees for all 100,000 of Real Madrid’s socios if he fails to deliver on his promise to bring the 25-year-old striker to the club.
In response to these bold claims, Manchester City reaffirmed that Erling Haaland remains fully committed to the team. The Norwegian striker recently signed a long-term contract extending to 2034, which does not include a release clause. The Manchester City hierarchy, including owner Sheikh Mansour, has absolutely no intention of selling the most vital star in their squad.
In a joint statement, the player’s father, Alfie Haaland, and his agent, Rafaela Pimenta, dismissed all reports of a transfer agreement. They maintained that the rumors linking him to Real Madrid are “interesting but untrue,” while also sending their best wishes to the electoral candidates. This emphasizes that Haaland’s camp remains entirely focused on his commitment to Manchester City.
On the other side of the campaign, incumbent President Florentino Pérez also played his transfer card, announcing the signing of Ibrahima Konaté as a free agent from Liverpool. Pérez, who is widely predicted to win the election, is also expected to appoint José Mourinho as head coach. The election is taking place against the backdrop of Real Madrid facing staggering debts amounting to €2 billion.
Erling Haaland’s future remains securely tied to Manchester City, safeguarded by his exceptionally long-term contract. Riquelme’s promise is largely viewed as a last-ditch effort to challenge Pérez’s dominance. This weekend’s voting results will dictate Real Madrid’s financial trajectory, but they are highly unlikely to alter the personnel situation at the Etihad Stadium.
