JAKARTA – Manchester City threatened to take legal action after Real Madrid’s presidential candidate, Enrique Riquelme, promised to recruit Erling Haaland if he was elected.
Riquelme, who faces incumbent president Florentino Perez in the election on Sunday, June 7, 2026, local time, spoke while appearing on Spanish television on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
During the interview, the 37-year-old renewable energy entrepreneur promised to recruit the Norwegian striker if he won the election against the 79-year-old Perez and lifted the Real Madrid jersey with the words ‘Haaland 9’ on the back.
“If I renege on my promise regarding any of these players, I have signed a guarantee where I will pay 100 percent of the membership fee for next season.”
“Haaland has a release clause and he wants to come to Real Madrid,” said Riquelme, who also promised to sign Haaland’s Manchester City teammate Rodri.
However, in a statement released on Thursday, June 4, 2026, Manchester City confirmed that there was no possibility of Haaland moving to Real Madrid and revealed that the club was considering legal action against Riquelme’s actions with his shirt.
“The news that has emerged from Spain regarding Erling Haaland’s future is not true. There is no possibility of this happening and there is no contract clause that allows it.”
“We are considering legal action against the use of our player’s image in this context,” a spokesman for The Citizens said in a statement.
Haaland signed a record-breaking 10-year contract at Manchester City in January 2025. In an interview with ESPN in April 2026, he admitted that he was very happy at the Etihad Stadium.
Haaland’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, and his father, Alfie, laughed off suggestions the 25-year-old could move if Riquelme wins the Real Madrid presidency, the first to be contested since 2006.
“All of that is very entertaining, but not true. We wish the best of luck to both candidates in the Real Madrid election,” the Haaland statement read.
Meanwhile, Manchester City have no intention of listening to offers for Rodri, whose contract expires in a year, during the summer transfer window and are planning for the Spaniard for next season.
Initial talks about a new deal have been held although Rodri says he remains open to options.
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