Erling Haaland: Manchester City threaten legal action over Real Madrid presidential candidate’s pledge to sign striker | soccer news

Manchester City are considering legal action after Real Madrid’s presidential candidate said he would sign Erling Haaland if he is elected.

What actually happened?

Actual presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme, who faces incumbent President Florentino Pérez in Sunday’s vote, made the claim on a Spanish TV show. The Anthill On Wednesday night, Haaland had a release clause and wanted to move to the Bernabeu. He also held up a Real shirt with ‘Holland 9’ emblazoned on the back.

Riquelme, who has also promised to sign Haaland’s City team-mate Rodri, said: “If I break my promise to these players, I have signed a guarantee that I will pay 100% of their membership fees for next season.”

“Halland has a release clause and wants to come to Madrid.”

What was City’s reaction?

However, Manchester City refuted these claims in a statement, saying there was no possibility of Haaland leaving the Etihad Stadium any time soon. The Premier League club also said it was considering legal action over the shirt stunt.

“The stories coming out of Spain about Erling Haaland’s future are not true,” a city spokesman said in a statement.

“There is no possibility of this happening and there is no provision in the contract that would enable it.

“We are considering legal action against the use of our players’ images in this context.”

Haaland is under contract at the Etihad until the summer of 2034 and his agent Rafaela Pimenta and his father Alfie Haaland have scoffed at suggestions that the 25-year-old could soon head to the Spanish capital.

A joint statement issued in the early hours of Thursday morning said: “It’s all very funny, but not really. I wish both candidates the best in the Real Madrid elections.”

What was Perez’s reaction?

Meanwhile, current Real president Florentino Perez announced his election pledge on Wednesday night, appearing to confirm that Jose Mourinho will return as Real Madrid coach if he wins next Sunday’s presidential election.

Perez posted a video of Mourinho saying “yes” in a Real shirt to

The video was posted in response to Riquelme’s TV appearance promoting his rival bid.

Perez has made no secret of his intention to appoint Mourinho as manager if he wins the vote and becomes his eighth manager, but he appears to have made this official through his social media posts.

Mourinho is widely expected to agree a three-year deal to return to the Bernabeu Stadium to replace Alvaro Arbeloa, who took over in January following the departure of Xabi Alonso.

While Benfica are yet to confirm Mourinho’s transfer, speculation is growing that Marco Silva is being lined up as his successor after the Portuguese announced he would leave Fulham when his contract expires in June.

Real Madrid’s presidential election on Sunday will be decided by club members. This is the first primary election since 2006, when club members will have to choose between incumbent Perez, 79, and businessman Riquelme, 37.

Haaland is seen as an ‘essential’ player for Manchester City’s future

Ben Ransom on Sky Sports News:

It is quite unusual for Manchester City to set such a record. They deny these claims. And it’s just a baseless claim.

But they come from someone who is trying to be elected president of Real Madrid.

He thinks he has the authority to go on Spanish TV and make that claim. City want to get rid of this problem very quickly.

Haaland has won the Golden Boot in three of the last four seasons, with only Mo Salah standing in his way.

When he signed, he helped the team win their first Champions League title. He was an important part of a traveling season in 2023. He’s really playing brilliantly.

He is a big part of this club and if you have a new manager after Pep Guardiola leaves, he will be seen as an integral part of the future.