Enrique Riquelme held up a Real Madrid shirt bearing Erling Haaland\u2019s name, while campaigning for club presidency.<\/p>\n
Published On 4 Jun 20264 Jun 2026<\/p>\n
Manchester City is considering legal action after Real Madrid presidential \u2060candidate Enrique Riquelme \u2060said he would sign the Premier League club\u2019s Norwegian striker Erling Haaland if elected.<\/p>\n
Riquelme, a renewable energy entrepreneur challenging incumbent Florentino \u2060Perez, made the pledge during an appearance on Spanish television on Wednesday, where he held up a Real Madrid shirt bearing Haaland\u2019s name.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe stories which \u2060have emerged from Spain regarding the future of Erling Haaland are untrue,\u201d a City spokesperson said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no chance of this happening, and there is no contractual clause to enable it. We are considering legal action for \u200cthe use of our player\u2019s image in this context.\u201d<\/p>\n
Riquelme said Haaland, who scored 38 goals in all competitions last season, had a release clause and wanted to move to the Spanish club, adding that he would make the transfer a priority if he wins Sunday\u2019s election.<\/p>\n
A joint statement from the 25-year-old footballer\u2019s father, Alfie Haaland, and his agent, Rafaela Pimenta, swiftly \u2060rejected the suggestion, describing it as \u201cnot true\u201d.<\/p>\n
Riquelme added he \u2060would try to sign City\u2019s Spain midfielder Rodri, saying he had spoken to the player\u2019s agent and would \u201cdo everything possible\u201d to bring the Ballon d\u2019Or winner to Madrid.<\/p>\n
The remarks come against \u2060the backdrop of Real\u2019s presidential election, the first in two decades in which Perez is not running unopposed, \u2060after the club\u2019s two seasons without a major \u2060trophy.<\/p>\n
Voting is scheduled for Sunday, with some 100,000 club members eligible to take part.<\/p>\n
Haaland had the option to join Real in 2022, when he left Borussia Dortmund. But he chose City, where \u200chis father played.<\/p>\n
While the striker, who won the Premier League Golden Boot for the third time in four seasons, said he would like to play \u200cfor \u200cReal one day, there has been no suggestion he is unhappy at City. He signed a new nine-and-a-half-year contract in January 2025.<\/p>\n