Manchester City receive Erling Haaland transfer decision after Real Madrid presidential election | OneFootball

Erling Haaland is expected to remain at Manchester City for the not-so-distant future, providing the clearest indication yet that the speculation surrounding the Norwegian’s future will not materialise into a transfer this summer.

The update comes after a turbulent few weeks wherein Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme publicly claimed Haaland had a release clause and wanted to join the Spanish club.

These audacious claims were swiftly dismissed by Haaland’s agent Rafaela Pimenta and father Alfie as “entertaining, but not true” – and further prompted City to threaten legal action against Riquelme over the remarks.

Haaland signed a contract extension until 2034 in January 2025 on a reported weekly salary in the region of £500,000, with City holding a firm belief throughout that the 25-year-old would not be following Pep Guardiola out of the Etihad Stadium despite the recent managerial change.

Report: Haaland to stay at City for foreseeable future

As per Sam Lee of The Athletic, Erling Haaland is expected to stay at Manchester City for the foreseeable future at the very least, with no indication of any imminent departure from the Etihad Stadium despite the noise generated by the Real Madrid presidential election campaign.

The update is consistent with the position City have maintained throughout the summer, with incumbent president and election victor Florentino Perez having also clarified that his mooted €150 million summer transfer target is not a Premier League player.

What is the wider context for Haaland’s City future?

Haaland scored 38 goals and provided nine assists in 52 games across all competitions last season as City won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup double, bringing his total for the club to 162 goals in 198 appearances since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.

He enters the new season under incoming manager Enzo Maresca as one of the most prolific strikers in Premier League history, with every indication that the Etihad Stadium will remain his home for the foreseeable future.

The aforementioned update effectively draws a line under a summer of speculation that has generated considerable noise but little substance, with City’s contractual position, the forward’s own contentment in Manchester and Team Haaland’s public denial all pointing in the same direction.