Manchester City are considering legal action against Enrique Riquelme after the Real Madrid presidential candidate held up a Madrid shirt with Erling Haaland’s name on the back during a TV appearance. Riquelme claimed a clause in the striker’s contract would allow him to sign Haaland if elected.
On Wednesday, Riquelme said Haaland, who agreed a record nine-and-a-half-year deal in January 2025, wanted to join Real. The Spanish businessman also promised that Rodri would leave City for the record 15-times European champions.
“Haaland has a release clause and he wants to come to Madrid,” Riquelme said on El Hormiguero. The businessman is standing against the incumbent, Florentino Pérez, in Sunday’s presidential elections.
City responded on Thursday by saying: “The stories which have emerged from Spain regarding the future of Erling Haaland are untrue. 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 image in this context.”
Haaland’s father, Alfie, and agent, Rafaela Pimenta, also denied Riquelme’s claim. “All very entertaining but not true,” they said. “We wish all the best for both candidates in the Real Madrid elections.”
Of Rodri, Riquelme said: “He’s a top player, a Ballon d’Or winner in a position where Madrid needs to strengthen. If I become president, Rodri will play for Real Madrid, with all due respect to City.
“I don’t have the track record of Florentino – I’ve never been president. That’s why I’m committing myself to the two players I’ve announced, backed by a personal notarised guarantee. If I fail to deliver, I will pay 100% of the annual dues of Madrid’s 100,000 members.”
Pep Guardiola’s departure as City’s manager after a supremely successful decade may cause some players to consider their future. On Monday, Rodri said: “I’m very calm, I know exactly where I stand, and I’ll tell you that perhaps if there hadn’t been a World Cup, things might be different.” The 29-year-old’s contract expires next summer.
José Mourinho, wanted by Real to become the Madrid club’s next manager, has filed a complaint at the European Court of Human Rights over disciplinary sanctions he received while coaching the Turkish club Fenerbahce. The Strasbourg-based court has accepted the application from the current Benfica coach, says a notice on its website on 1 June, and has requested observations from the Turkish government.
Mourinho is challenging a 600,000 Turkish lira (£9,717) fine plus a one-match ban from the dressing room and bench area imposed by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) after a 3-2 Super Lig win at Trabzonspor on 3 November, 2024. The federation penalised Mourinho for unsportsmanlike conduct towards rival fans during the match, and for subsequent press comments criticising refereeing standards.
City have had an initial bid for Elliot Anderson rejected by Nottingham Forest. Hugo Viana, the sporting director, is expected to return with an increased offer. The Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis, is believed to value the 23-year-old at about £100m, the club record fee City paid Aston Villa for Jack Grealish in August 2021. Anderson is in line to start in England’s opening World Cup game against Croatia on 17 June.
