Manchester City Considers Legal Action Over Haaland's Madrid Shirt Incident
Manchester City are weighing up legal action after a Real Madrid presidential candidate publicly vowed to sign Erling Haaland and even held up a Madrid shirt with the striker’s name on it.
Enrique Riquelme, a 37-year-old renewable energy tycoon bidding to unseat Florentino Perez, appeared on Spanish television on Wednesday and made a bold, headline-grabbing promise. Holding the customised shirt, he declared: “He has a release clause and would like to join Real Madrid. If I become president, he will play for Real Madrid.”
That was enough to trigger a furious response from the Haaland camp and from City.
A joint statement from Haaland’s father and agent landed quickly, before City reinforced the message. “The stories which have emerged from Spain regarding the future of Erling Haaland are untrue,” the statement read. “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.”
City, fiercely protective of their star assets and their contractual positions, are understood to be deeply unimpressed at seeing their leading striker used as a campaign prop in a presidential race 900 miles away.
Haaland was not the only City player dragged into Riquelme’s electoral pitch.
The challenger also pledged to sign Rodri, the metronomic midfielder who has become one of Pep Guardiola’s most indispensable players. “He is a great player, in a position where Madrid need to strengthen,” Riquelme said. “We have spoken to his agent. We have to respect his club, but if I’m president he will play for Madrid. I will do everything possible.”
The comments form part of an unusually populist campaign at Real Madrid. For the first time in 20 years, Perez faces a genuine challenger in a presidential election, after two trophyless seasons have fuelled discontent among sections of the fanbase.
Riquelme has responded with a platform built on grand promises and giveaways. He has talked up plans for a “members’ city” for fans around the club’s training base and has even vowed to cut annual membership fees by up to 50% if Madrid fail to win the Champions League next season.
He has also taken direct aim at one of Perez’s most controversial decisions: the move to bring Jose Mourinho back to the Bernabeu. Mourinho’s appointment can only be formally ratified if Perez wins the vote, and Riquelme has set out a very different vision for the dugout.
His camp has repeatedly hinted that Jurgen Klopp is their dream choice. Speaking to The Athletic last month, Riquelme said: “Naturally, I would love for profiles of that calibre, and others like them, to coach this club.” No guarantees, no deals announced — but the message to members is clear: vote for change, and you might get Klopp instead of Mourinho.
Just under 100,000 Real Madrid members are eligible to vote when the election takes place on Sunday, 7 June. Perez, who called the vote himself in search of a renewed mandate after a spell of on-field unrest and open dissent at the Santiago Bernabeu, remains the overwhelming favourite.
Yet in the battle for Madrid’s future, Riquelme has already managed one thing: he has dragged Manchester City, Erling Haaland and Rodri into the heart of a presidential campaign. Now the question is whether that show of ambition ends at the ballot box — or in a courtroom.
