Riquelme responds after Haaland camp deny Real Madrid signing pledge | OneFootball

Enrique Riquelme vowed on TV to sign Erling Haaland and Rodri if he wins Sunday’s Real Madrid election, only for the striker’s camp to dismiss the claims, prompting a swift rebuttal.

Appearing on El Hormiguero, the businessman showed a Haaland shirt and a notarised pledge to pay the roughly 100,000 members’ fees next season if he fails to land both players. He said Haaland has a release clause and would be willing to join under his mandate.

Hours later, the player’s father Alf-Inge Haaland and agent Rafaela Pimienta issued a statement. They said the talk was entertaining but untrue, wished both candidates well and denied any agreement to move to Real Madrid.

“It is part of the game. It happened with Figo as well. As I say, you have to protect the player, we had spoken before and after. I was with him very recently. And also with Pablo Barquero, Rodri’s representative. In this case I know perfectly well that you then have to speak with City,” he told Diario AS.

He later argued the club’s pull would convince Haaland, saying the world’s best want to come if the right conditions are in place.

The row comes in a heated final stretch of campaigning. Florentino Pérez, favourite in the polls, has raised the possibility of José Mourinho as coach, while Riquelme proposes Raúl González as sporting director and Fernando Hierro to lead the academy, plus marquee signings.

Whether this back and forth sways members on Sunday remains unclear, though the Haaland gambit has energised debate and underlined the risks of airing delicate deals too early.

Source: Superdeporte