Hugo Viana and Manchester City to prevent Erling Haaland exit despite possible Pep Guardiola departure | OneFootball

Manchester City will block a potential departure to Spain for star forward Erling Haaland this summer, as per a new report.

Haaland has endured a frustrating 2026 so far as the goals have dried up for the Norway international as Manchester City go through the motions of a transitional campaign.

The 25-year-old has been far from his best in a new-look Pep Guardiola side in recent months and the January arrival of Antoine Semenyo has witnessed the Ghana international become a regular goalscorer for the Blues.

City and Haaland won their first trophy in two seasons last week as a four minute brace of headers from Nico O’Reilly helped them beat title rivals Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

Haaland’s Manchester City season in numbers

Despite a sluggish few months in the final third, Haaland still boasts 30 goals and seven assists in 43 appearances in all competitions for Manchester City this season.

City endured a difficult January marred by injuries in defence but found some momentum between February and March to close the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal.

However, draws against Nottingham Forest and West Ham in their last two league outings have left the Blues with a mountain to climb in their final nine games of the domestic campaign.

Haaland has scored just five times in 2026 but after winning the Carabao Cup final, Guardiola will be hoping his number nine can kick on and return to his best form in the business months of the season.

Barcelona and Real Madrid interest in Haaland

Death, taxes and Haaland being linked with one of the Spanish giants. The striker is under contract at Manchester City till the summer of 2034 on wages understood to be in the region of £400,000-per-week.

Barcelona and Real Madrid maintain a long-standing interest in the former Borussia Dortmund man but despite the ongoing uncertainty around Guardiola’s future in Manchester, Haaland will not be leaving City this summer.

Speaking on Football Insider‘s podcast, journalist Pete O’Rourke said: “I don’t see any way that Manchester City will be opening any doors for Erling Haaland to leave. He signed a new long-term contract last January.

“Obviously, he’s not been at his best but (I) think probably that’s because Manchester City have not been at their best either. Maybe they’re not functioning as fluently as they were at the start of the season.

“Manchester City will be very keen to keep him and build around Haaland rather than letting him leave. But the rumours with Barcelona and Real Madrid, they’re never going to go away because he will be such a dream signing for both of those clubs.”