Manchester City hold Erling Haaland transfer belief following Pep Guardiola departure | OneFootball

Manchester City believe that star striker Erling Haaland will not follow Pep Guardiola out of the Etihad Stadium this summer amid interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid. 

The Norway international finished the 2025/26 Premier League season with 27 goals after another flawless campaign in front of goal, where Guardiola’s side won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. 

Since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, the forward has rewritten the history of English football by scoring 162 goals and providing 30 assists in 198 games for the club.

As a result of his extraordinary attacking ability, City rewarded Haaland with the club’s most lucrative contract ever in January when he was tied down to a deal that is set to run until 2034. 

And although the Premier League side have consistently downplayed suggestions that Haaland’s contract contains release clauses, sources close to Barcelona and Real Madrid are convinced there are mechanisms within the agreement that could allow the striker to leave under certain circumstances in the future. 

In a report published by TEAMtalk, high-ranking sources confirmed that both Spanish giants are planning to carry out background work on Haaland despite recognising that a move this summer is highly unlikely.

Barcelona remain huge admirers of the striker, not least because Robert Lewandowski announced that he will leave the La Liga champions at the end of the season after four years and 193 appearances.

The Catalan club view Haaland as one of the best signings for the next era of Barcelona’s history with the potential to join Raphinha and Lamine Yamal in attack during a period where the rebuilt Nou Camp is set to be completed.

However, there are plenty more barriers for the club above that desire, including financial constraints which have hit Barcelona harder than any other clubs dealing with similar issues.

They had to sell their media and television rights, target free agents such as Ilkay Gundogan from the Citizens in 2023, and force out some of their greatest players including Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba. 

Real, however, are equally attentive to the potential transfer but sit much prettier financially than their rivals. TEAMtalk revealed that there are influential figures within the Spanish capital who believe that Jose Mourinho’s impending arrival could lead towards the signing of Haaland in future windows. 

Those claims will only become stronger if Los Blancos also decide to let Kylian Mbappe move on after the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner; the France international has come under intense scrutiny following an inconsistent campaign.