City threatens to sue Real Madrid presidential candidate; understand

Manchester City is considering taking legal action after Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme publicly stated that he intends to sign striker Erling Haaland if elected.

While appearing on a television program in Spain, Riquelme displayed a Real Madrid shirt with Haaland's name on it and declared that he would make signing the player a priority in his management.

In response, Manchester City denied any possibility of negotiation and criticized the use of the athlete's image.

"The information that has emerged in Spain about Erling Haaland's future is not true. There is no chance of this happening and there is no contractual clause that allows this situation. We are considering legal action for the use of our player's image in this context," said a club spokesperson.

Riquelme, businessman in the renewable energy sector and opponent of current president Florentino Pérez, claimed that Haaland would have an exit clause and interest in playing for the Spanish club.

The statement was quickly refuted by Alfie Haaland and the player's agent, Rafaela Pimenta, who classified the information as false. In addition to Haaland, Riquelme stated that he would try to sign midfielder Rodri, also from Manchester City and winner of the Ballon d'Or, if he wins the election scheduled for Sunday.

The election at Real Madrid will be the first in two decades without a single candidacy from Florentino Pérez. Around 100,000 members are eligible to vote.

Haaland was targeted by the Spanish club in 2022, when he left Borussia Dortmund, but chose to transfer to Manchester City, where his father also played.

Despite having already declared that he would like to play for Real Madrid at some point in his career, the striker showed no signs of dissatisfaction in England. In January 2025, he signed a new contract with City valid for nine and a half years.

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Source: CNN