Real Madrid presidential candidate makes bold Erling Haaland and Rodri transfer declarations | OneFootball

Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme has made bold public declarations over his intentions to sign both Erling Haaland and Rodri from Manchester City, should he win the club’s presidential election on June 7.

Riquelme outlined his transfer ambitions with remarkable directness, targeting two of the most important players at the Etihad Stadium in what would represent one of the most seismic raids in transfer history if realised.

Real Madrid are in a period of significant transition, with Florentino Perez, 79 and in his 17th year as president, facing a challenge from Riquelme after Los Blancos failed to win a major trophy for a second consecutive season.

The arrival of Jose Mourinho as head coach has generated fresh optimism in the Spanish capital and Riquelme is seeking to capitalise on that momentum with a series of marquee transfer pledges.

Riquelme: Haaland has a release clause & wants Real Madrid

Despite Erling Haaland being contracted to Manchester City till the summer of 2034, Riquelme has made an audacious promise of signing the Norway international should he be elected Real Madrid president.

“(Erling) Haaland has a release clause and wants to join Real Madrid,” he said on Wednesday, as quoted by The Athletic.

Haaland has previously attracted interest from the Spanish capital and despite having committed his long-term future to City, the terms of that deal are understood to include a release clause that could be triggered under certain conditions.

A player like Rodri will play for Real Madrid, adds Riquelme

On Rodri, Riquelme was equally direct, though careful to acknowledge the need to respect Manchester City’s position.

“If I’m Real Madrid president, a player like Rodri will play for Real Madrid,” he added, repeating the claim before adding that City “should be respected” as the Ballon d’Or winner has another year remaining on his contract at the Etihad Stadium.

The comments add further pressure to an already complicated contract situation at the Etihad Stadium ahead of a summer of major transition, sparked by the recent exits of Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Pep Guardiola as well as nearly the entirety of his backroom staff.

Rodri is seeking a better contract than what City have currently tabled, with the Ballon d’Or having indicated that he will not address his future until after the upcoming FIFA World Cup across the Atlantic.

What do Riquelme’s comments mean for Manchester City?

The timing of Riquelme’s declarations, made days before the June 7 presidential election, gives them a political as much as a footballing dimension.

Whether he ultimately wins the vote or not, his public targeting of City’s two most important players will only intensify the pressure on director of football Hugo Viana to resolve both situations before the summer window reaches its critical stage.

Rodri said in a radio interview in March that “you can’t ignore the best clubs in the world” – a remark that has never been far from the surface of this saga.

With a Real Madrid presidential candidate now publicly declaring he belongs at the Santiago Bernabeu and City yet to agree an extension, the next few months could be critical in determining the direction of contract negotiations between Rodri and the Blues.