Erling Haaland’s rumoured move to Real Madrid this summer appears to be off. The Manchester City icon appears set to remain at the Etihad Stadium this summer, but has previously said he would one day like to play for Leeds United.
Chatter about Haaland and a spectacular move to Los Blancos began after Real’s presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme, who has since lost the election, promised to sign the Norwegian if he won.
However, Florentino Perez took the popular vote, claiming 64.8 per cent compared to his opponent’s 35.2 per cent, and promised to make a club-record transfer offer of at least £130million to one of Europe’s hottest stars. However, this is thought not to be Haaland.
While City fans can rest easy for now, Haaland has gone on record saying he would play for Leeds. Haaland’s father, Alf-Inge, represented the Yorkshire outfit between 1997 and 2000.
Haaland was subsequently born in Leeds and is even said to support Daniel Farke’s side. Speaking back in 2017 to Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten while playing for Molde, Haaland said: “I want to be the best. The dream is to win the Premier League with Leeds. In addition, the goal is to be a better player than Dad was.”
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In 2022 Haaland refused to celebrate when he scored a brace at Elland Road as City ran out 3-1 winners. Following the game, Haaland said: “With my father in the (stands) over there, it’s special,. I am happy today, it’s a really special moment in my career… It’s my craziest fantasy that I could be at Elland Road and score for Manchester City against Leeds.”
Presidential candidate Riquelme previously claimed Haaland “has a release clause and would like to join Real Madrid.” He said: “If I become president, he will play for Real Madrid.”
City swiftly shot down the story. They 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 image in this context.” Haaland’s father, Alf-Inge, and his agent, Rafaela Pimenta, said in a joint statement: “All very entertaining but not true.”
View 3 ImagesErling Haaland has been linked with Real Madrid over recent days(Image: Getty Images)
Perez then moved to calm City’s nerves. He said: “On Tuesday or so, I’m going to make an offer to a major Champions League club for a great player.
“It would be the largest transfer fee Real Madrid has ever paid in its history. [Michael, Bayern Munich] Olise is a great player, but it’s not Olise. It’s not [Jeremy, Man City] Doku either. We’re going to make a significant offer, at least around 150m. He needs to be a player from midfield who can go forward. And it’s not Haaland.
“The player is not from the Premier League. And the first thing we’ll do is talk to the club. It’s a signing meant to generate excitement because that’s what it’s all about, generating excitement.”
Perez also ruled out it being Bayern and England star Harry Kane. However, while France international Olise is thought to be the player Madrid will make a move for, the Spanish president seems to have a fight on his hands to land the former Crystal Palace winger.
View 3 ImagesErling Haaland (L) with his dad Alf-Inge (R)
Herbert Hainer, president of Bayern, has told BILD: “Michael Olise is an FC Bayern Munich player who still has a long contract – and we are not a selling club. If Florentino Perez wants to send us an offer – which has not been the case so far – he can save himself.”
Their honorary president, Uli Hoeness, has also said of Madrid’s returning head coach Jose Mourinho : “He can cast five eyes on Olise, he can’t get it. It remains unsellable.”
Haaland signed for City from Borussia Dortmund in May 2022 for just over £50m. He has won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups and the League Cup as well as three Premier League Golden Boot awards.
It looks like he isn’t going anywhere for now, even Leeds. In January 2025, the formidable forward signed a record-breaking nine-and-a-half-year contract at City. The striker was under contract at the Etihad Stadium until 2027, but is now tied there until 2034.
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