Manchester City are ready to take legal action against Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme after he publicly claimed that Erling Haaland’s contract contains a release clause that would allow him to force a move to the Spanish capital.
The escalating dispute began when Riquelme appeared on the Spanish talk show El Hormiguero this week, holding up a Real Madrid shirt bearing Haaland’s name and number. In a brazen election pitch, the challenger to Florentino Pérez told viewers that the Norwegian striker not only had a way out of his Manchester deal but was eager to trade sky blue for white. 'Haaland has a release clause and he wants to come to Madrid,' Riquelme asserted, promising to deliver the 25‑year‑old goal machine if he wins Sunday’s ballot.
Manchester City wasted no time in firing back on Thursday. In a terse statement, the Premier League champions dismissed the claims as entirely false and revealed they were mulling legal steps over the unauthorized use of their player’s image. 'The stories which have emerged from Spain regarding the future of Erling Haaland are untrue. There is no chance of this happening and there is no contractual clause to enable it,' the club said. 'We are considering legal action for the use of our player image in this context.'
Haaland’s inner circle also moved quickly to quash the speculation. His father, Alfie, and agent, Rafaela Pimenta, released a joint statement denying any substance to the rumour. 'All very entertaining but not true,' they said, while diplomatically wishing both Real Madrid candidates well in the elections.
The notion of a release clause is particularly audacious given Haaland’s unprecedented contract situation. In January 2025, the striker committed his long‑term future to City by signing a nine‑and‑a‑half‑year extension that ties him to the club until the summer of 2034. That deal, one of the longest in football history, was seen as a definitive statement of intent from both player and club, effectively removing any immediate uncertainty over his next move. With 10 seasons still to run on that agreement, any talk of a buy‑out clause engineered for a swift exit appears fanciful.
Riquelme did not stop at Haaland. In the same interview, he also set his sights on City’s Ballon d’Or‑winning midfielder, Rodri, vowing to bring the Spaniard to the Bernabéu if elected. He even offered a personal notarised guarantee to pay the annual membership fees of Madrid’s 100,000 socios if he fails to deliver on his transfer promises – an unusual pledge that underlines the theatrical nature of campaign pledges.
Rodri, for his part, has done little to dampen speculation about his future. Speaking earlier this week, the 29‑year‑old suggested that the approaching World Cup could be a factor in his decision‑making. 'I’m very calm, I know exactly where I stand, and I’ll tell you that perhaps if there hadn’t been a World Cup, things might be different,' he said. His current contract expires next summer, making this a critical period for negotiations. City must soon decide whether to offer a new deal or risk losing one of their most influential players for nothing in 2027.
Adding to the sense of potential transition at the Etihad is the recent departure of Pep Guardiola. The legendary manager left after a trophy‑laden decade, and while City have moved swiftly to appoint a successor, the change at the top invariably sparks questions over which stars might seek a new challenge. Haaland and Rodri are among the players most frequently linked with moves abroad, but City’s aggressive response to the latest rumours suggests they will not entertain any approaches lightly.
Away from the courtroom threats and election theatre, City are also active in the transfer market. The club has seen an initial offer for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson rejected, with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis said to value the 23‑year‑old at around £100 million. That figure would match the club‑record fee City paid Aston Villa for Jack Grealish in 2021. Sporting director Hugo Viana is expected to return with an improved bid as the club look to reinforce their squad ahead of a demanding campaign.
Anderson’s stock has never been higher. The dynamic midfielder is in line to start for England in their World Cup opener against Croatia on 17 June, and his performances at Forest have marked him as one of the Premier League’s brightest young talents. Securing his signature would send a powerful signal that City remain determined to evolve and compete on all fronts, even as speculation swirls around their existing stars.
For City, the twin sagas of Haaland and Rodri highlight the unique pressures that come with sustained success. Every presidential election at Real Madrid, every transfer window, brings with it attempts to destabilise their squad. By threatening legal action, the club are drawing a line in the sand: they will not allow their players’ images to be used in political campaigns, nor will they tolerate unfounded claims about contractual loopholes. Whether Riquelme’s gambit wins him votes or merely exposes the desperation of an underdog candidate remains to be seen, but it has already backfired in the court of public opinion – and possibly in a real one, too.
As the dust settles on another chaotic week of football politics, one thing is clear: Manchester City are in no mood to be a selling club, no matter who comes calling. Based on reporting from The Guardian.
