Manchester City are reportedly considering legal action after Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme publicly claimed he would sign Erling Haaland if elected president of the Spanish club.
Riquelme made the remarks during a television appearance in Spain on 3 June, where he unveiled a Real Madrid shirt bearing Haaland’s name and the number nine while outlining his plans should he defeat long-serving president Florentino Perez in this weekend’s election.
The 37-year-old businessman also stated that he would attempt to sign Spain midfielder Rodri, despite the Manchester City star remaining under contract at the Etihad Stadium.
“Rodri plays in a position Real Madrid need and he fits the profile. If I become president, he will play for Real Madrid,” Riquelme said.
He added that negotiations for Rodri would only take place through the proper channels because of the player’s contractual situation with City.
However, his comments regarding Haaland generated a far stronger reaction. Riquelme claimed the Norwegian striker had a release clause and wanted to move to Real Madrid, presenting the potential transfer as a key promise of his campaign.
Manchester City swiftly rejected those claims.
“The stories which have emerged from Spain regarding the future of Erling Haaland are untrue,” a club spokesperson said.
“There is no chance of this happening and there is no contractual clause to enable it. We are considering legal action for the use of our player’s image in this context.”
City’s response directly contradicts Riquelme’s assertion that Haaland has a release clause that could facilitate a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Haaland has been one of City’s most important players since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2022. The Norwegian signed a new nine-and-a-half-year contract in January 2025, committing his long-term future to the Premier League club.
The 25-year-old enjoyed another prolific campaign in 2025/26, scoring 27 Premier League goals to secure the Golden Boot. He also helped City win both the FA Cup and League Cup, adding to a trophy collection that already includes multiple league titles and a Champions League crown.
The controversy comes ahead of Real Madrid’s presidential election on 7 June, where Riquelme is attempting to unseat Perez, who has overseen one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.
Perez, now 79, first became Real Madrid president in 2000 and was the architect of the club’s famous Galacticos era. After stepping down in 2006, he returned in 2009 and has remained in charge ever since.
According to reports in Spain, Perez called the election following a disappointing campaign in which Real Madrid finished without a major trophy for a second consecutive season.
Riquelme has attempted to build support with a series of ambitious promises, including claims that he has already identified an alternative managerial candidate to the one favoured by Perez. However, it was his public pursuit of Haaland that generated the greatest attention and prompted City’s threat of legal action.
