Manchester City Threaten Legal Action After Real Madrid Presidential Candidate Vows to Sign Erling Haaland

Byline: CM News Sports Desk | Date: June 4, 2026

Manchester City have escalated a rapidly developing transfer controversy by threatening legal action against Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme, after he publicly pledged to sign Erling Haaland if elected club president. The dramatic row erupted Wednesday evening when Riquelme made his bold claims on Spanish television, only for both Haaland's camp and Manchester City to issue swift, emphatic rebuttals within hours.

Key Facts

- Who: Enrique Riquelme, Real Madrid presidential candidate challenging incumbent Florentino Pérez

- What: Riquelme pledged on live TV to sign Erling Haaland and Rodri if elected

- When: Wednesday evening; City's response came Thursday

- City's position: "There is no chance of this happening and there is no contractual clause to enable it"

- Legal threat: City are "considering legal action for the use of our player image in this context"

- Election date: Sunday, when approximately 100,000 Real Madrid members will vote

The controversy ignited on Wednesday night when Riquelme, a 37-year-old renewable energy entrepreneur, appeared on the popular Spanish television programme *El Hormiguero* and made a series of eye-catching promises to Real Madrid's membership. He claimed on the show that Haaland had a release clause in his contract and wanted to move to the Bernabéu. [Sky Sports] In a moment that immediately went viral across social media, Riquelme held up a Real Madrid shirt with "Haaland 9" printed on the back [ESPN] — a calculated piece of theatre designed to capture the imagination of Madrid's supporters ahead of Sunday's vote.

Riquelme also promised to sign Haaland's City teammate Rodri, and backed his pledges with a financial guarantee: if he failed to deliver on either signing, he would personally cover 100 percent of membership costs for the following season. [ESPN]

The reaction from Manchester was swift and unambiguous. A City spokesperson stated that the stories emerging from Spain regarding the future of Erling Haaland were untrue, that there was no chance of the transfer happening, and that there was no contractual clause to enable it. [Al Jazeera] The club went further, warning that they were considering legal action over the use of their player's image in this context. [ESPN]

Haaland's own representatives were equally dismissive. A joint statement from his agent, Rafaela Pimenta, and his father, Alfie Haaland, laughed off the suggestion that the 25-year-old could leave the club if Riquelme wins the election. [ESPN] His camp described the claims as entertaining but without basis in fact.

The Contract Reality

The facts around Haaland's contractual situation make Riquelme's claims particularly difficult to substantiate. Haaland signed a new nine-and-a-half-year contract with Manchester City in January 2025 [Sky Sports] — a landmark deal that ties the Norwegian striker to the Etihad Stadium until 2034. In an interview with ESPN in April, Haaland said he was "super happy" at City [ESPN] , giving no indication of any desire to pursue a move to Spain.

Since arriving at the Etihad in 2022, Haaland has struck 162 goals in 198 appearances, helping City win two Premier League titles and the Champions League. He has claimed the Premier League Golden Boot in three of the past four seasons [Sky Sports] — a record of productivity that makes him one of the most valuable players in world football.

The Real Madrid Election Context

Riquelme's Haaland gambit is not without historical precedent in the theatre of Spanish football politics. Florentino Pérez himself famously won the Real Madrid presidency in 2000 by pledging to sign Luis Figo from Barcelona [Morocco World News] — a promise he fulfilled, creating one of the most controversial transfers in football history.

Sunday's election is the first in two decades in which Pérez is not running unopposed, set against the backdrop of Real Madrid's two seasons without a major trophy. [Al Jazeera] Approximately 100,000 club members are eligible to vote, and Riquelme's headline-grabbing pledges appear designed to galvanise those frustrated with the club's recent lack of silverware.

Whether the strategy will work, however, is a separate question — and City's legal threat has added significant risk to Riquelme's approach. Pérez's long tenure and record of delivering marquee signings make him the frontrunner [Morocco World News] in the election, while Riquelme's candidacy — despite the drama it has generated — remains an uphill battle.

The Rodri Question

Riquelme's simultaneous pledge to sign Rodri adds a further dimension to the story. Rodri's current contract runs until 2027, and the 29-year-old Spain international has previously been linked with Real Madrid, though City still consider him part of their plans. Rodri said earlier this week that he did not want to discuss his future until after the World Cup. [Sky Sports] City have not yet issued a separate legal threat relating to Rodri, but their broader statement makes clear they view any unauthorised use of their players' likenesses in this context as legally actionable.

Analysis: The Legal and Reputational Stakes

City's decision to invoke the possibility of legal action is notable. While clubs routinely issue denials of transfer speculation, threatening litigation over a political candidate's television appearance represents an unusually aggressive escalation. It signals that the club views the matter not merely as idle speculation, but as a reputational and image rights issue with real consequences.

The case could set an interesting precedent in European football. If a presidential candidate in a club election can publicly claim — without evidence — that a contracted player wishes to move, and use that player's name and image as campaign material, other clubs may be watching closely to see how far City's legal position is taken.

For Riquelme, the coming days will be revealing. His strategy has generated enormous global publicity, but it has also drawn the ire of one of Europe's most powerful clubs and exposed him to potential legal liability ahead of the most important vote of his campaign.

What Happens Next

Real Madrid's presidential election takes place this Sunday. Should Pérez win — as most analysts anticipate — the controversy is likely to fade quickly. If Riquelme were to pull off an upset, however, the legal and football dimensions of his Haaland pledge would immediately become central to the story.

For Manchester City, the next step will be determining whether to formally pursue legal proceedings or allow their strong public statement to serve as a sufficient deterrent. Given the club's resources and track record of protecting their commercial and image rights, the threat should not be dismissed.

Haaland, meanwhile, is expected to continue his preparations for the upcoming season — firmly at the Etihad, under contract until 2034, and with his representatives making abundantly clear that Sunday's vote in Madrid changes nothing.

Conclusion

What began as an audacious campaign stunt on Spanish television has rapidly escalated into a serious legal dispute. Manchester City's threat of legal action over the unauthorised use of Erling Haaland's image underscores how seriously the club views Riquelme's claims — and how definitively they intend to protect both their player and their institutional reputation. With the Real Madrid election just days away, this story is far from over.

Sources: ESPN, Sky Sports, Al Jazeera, Morocco World News

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