Man City threatens legal action over Haaland rumours

Manchester City said on Thursday it was considering legal action after Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme claimed he would sign Erling Haaland if elected. The Premier League club issued the warning after Riquelme appeared on Spanish television on Wednesday holding up a Real Madrid shirt bearing Haaland’s name and saying the Norway striker had a release clause and wanted to move to Madrid. City said those claims were false and said it objected to the use of the player’s image. The dispute pulled a transfer rumor into the middle of Real Madrid’s presidential race, which is due to be decided on Sunday. Riquelme, a renewable energy entrepreneur, is challenging incumbent Florentino Perez in the club’s first contested presidential election in two decades. ### What exactly did Manchester City say? Manchester City said in a statement on Thursday: “The stories which have emerged from Spain regarding the future of Erling Haaland are untrue.” The club added: “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.” (straitstimes.com) The wording addressed two separate points at once. City denied that Haaland was heading to Madrid and denied that any clause existed that would allow such a move. The club then said it was weighing legal action over how Haaland’s image was used during the campaign. ### What did Enrique Riquelme claim in Spain? (straitstimes.com) Riquelme made the pledge during a Spanish television appearance on Wednesday, according to Reuters and ESPN. During that appearance, he held up a Real Madrid shirt with “Haaland” on it and said he would make the striker’s signing a priority if he won Sunday’s election. (straitstimes.com) ESPN reported that Riquelme also said: “Haaland has a release clause, and he wants to come to Madrid.” Reuters reported that he said he would also try to sign Rodri, Haaland’s Manchester City teammate and Spain midfielder. ### Did Haaland’s camp respond too? Rafaela Pimenta and Alfie Haaland rejected the suggestion in a joint statement. (straitstimes.com) Reuters said the player’s agent and father described Riquelme’s claim as “not true.” ESPN quoted the joint statement as saying: “All very entertaining but not true. We wish all the best for both candidates in the Madrid elections.” Erling Haaland, 25, signed a new long-term contract with Manchester City in January 2025, Reuters reported, describing it as a 9-1/2-year deal. ESPN described it as a record-breaking 10-year contract and said Haaland told the broadcaster in April that he was “super happy” at the Etihad Stadium. (straitstimes.com) ### Why is this tied to a Real Madrid election? Real Madrid members are due to vote on Sunday in a presidential election that Reuters said is the first in two decades in which Perez is not running unopposed. Reuters reported that about 100,000 club members are eligible to take part. Riquelme’s Haaland pledge came as part of that campaign. (straitstimes.com) ESPN said he also promised to sign Rodri and said he would cover members’ fees for next season if he failed to deliver on those player promises. ### What happens next? Sunday’s Real Madrid election is the next clear milestone in the dispute, with Riquelme set to face Perez. (straitstimes.com) Manchester City has not publicly detailed what form any legal action would take, but its June 4 statement said the club was considering it. (espn.com)