Enrique Riquelme campaigned for club president while holding up a Real Madrid shirt with Erling Haaland’s name on it.
Published June 4, 2026
Manchester City are considering legal action after Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme said he would sign Norwegian striker Erling Haaland for the Premier League club if elected.
Riquelme, a renewable energy entrepreneur who is challenging incumbent Florentino Pérez, appeared on Spanish television on Wednesday to make the pledge, holding up a Real Madrid shirt with Haaland’s name on it.
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“The stories coming out of Spain regarding Erling Haaland’s future are not true,” a city spokesperson said on Thursday.
“There is no chance of this happening and there is no contractual clause that would allow it to happen. We are considering legal action against the use of images of our players in this context.”
Riquelme said Haaland, who scored 38 goals in all competitions last season, had a release clause in his contract and wanted to move to the Spanish club, adding that he would prioritize a move if he won Sunday’s election.
The 25-year-old footballer’s father, Alfie Haaland, and his agent, Rafaela Pimenta, immediately rejected the proposal in a joint statement, calling it “untrue.”
Riquelme added that he would try to sign City midfielder Rodri, saying he had spoken to the player’s agent and would “do everything possible” to bring the Ballon d’Or winner to Madrid.
The comments were made against the backdrop of Real’s presidential election, which saw the club fail to win any major trophies in two seasons, but it marks the first time in 20 years that Perez has run unopposed.
Voting is scheduled for Sunday, with approximately 100,000 club members eligible to participate.
Haaland had the option to join Real in 2022 after leaving Borussia Dortmund. However, he chose City, where his father had played.
The striker, who won the Premier League’s Golden Boot for the third time in four seasons, has said he would like to play for Real one day, but there was no suggestion he was unhappy with City. He signed a new nine-and-a-half year contract in January 2025.
Perez announced on Wednesday that if he is selected, he will return Benfica manager Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid for a second term as Los Blancos manager.
The Portuguese, a former Manchester United, Chelsea and Inter Milan manager, previously won the La Liga title during his three years at Madrid.
