Manchester City threatens legal action over Real Madrid presidential candidate’s Haaland claims

Manchester City has confirmed that no agreement exists for the departure of striker Erling Haaland and stated it is considering legal action regarding the unauthorised use of the player’s image. The statement followed claims made by Enrique Riquelme, a candidate in the upcoming Real Madrid presidential election, who asserted on Spanish television that he had secured the signature of the Norwegian forward.

Riquelme, who is challenging incumbent president Florentino Perez on June 7, made the assertions while appearing on the popular Spanish television program El Hormiguero on Wednesday night. During the broadcast, he promised to sign both Haaland and Manchester City midfielder Rodri if voters elected him to the role. To underscore his commitment, Riquelme held up a Real Madrid shirt bearing Haaland’s name and number, stating that he had signed a guarantee to pay 100% of all members’ dues for the following season if he failed to deliver on these promises.

Haaland’s agency, which has been led by Rafaela Pimenta since the passing of Mino Raiola, swiftly dismissed the claims. In a joint statement issued alongside the player’s father, Alf-Inge Haaland, the camp described the reports as false. “It’s all very entertaining, but none of it is true,” the statement read, adding that the agency wished both candidates the best in the Real Madrid elections.

Manchester City reinforced this position in a separate communication, describing the stories emerging from Spain as false and noting that there is no contractual clause allowing Haaland’s departure from the Etihad. The club explicitly stated that the possibility of the player leaving was non-existent and confirmed it was considering legal action specifically for the use of Haaland’s image in this context.

The incident occurs against the backdrop of a heated election campaign, with Perez having already announced that Jose Mourinho will become the new head coach at Real Madrid should he remain in office. Analysts have noted potential tactical implications for the club, including how Haaland might pair with Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr., though such scenarios remain speculative given the firm denials from Manchester City and the player’s representatives.