Manchester City are contemplating taking legal action after a Real Madrid presidential candidate promised to sign their striker Erling Haaland, reports the BBC. Enrique Riquelme, a renewable energy magnate challenging current president Florentino Perez, unveiled a Real Madrid shirt bearing Haaland's name on television on Wednesday, stating: 'He has a release clause and would like to join Real Madrid. If I become president, he will play for Real Madrid.'
A swift denial was issued in a joint statement by Haaland's father and agent before City dismissed the suggestion. '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.'
Riquelme also pledged to sign City midfielder Rodri, adding: 'He is a great player, in a position where Madrid needs to strengthen. 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.'
Haaland's father, Alfe Inge, and agent Rafaela Pimenta said in their joint statement: 'All very entertaining but not true. We wish all the best for both candidates in the Real Madrid elections.'
Riquelme has challenged Perez in the election, the first time in 20 years Perez has not stood unopposed, following two seasons in which the club has won no major trophies. The 37-year-old has run on a campaign of vast giveaways, including a promise to build a members' city for fans around the training base, featuring swimming pools, padel courts, and a basketball arena. Riquelme also opposes Perez's decision to hire Jose Mourinho as the club's manager. That appointment can only be formally confirmed if Perez wins the election. The team behind Riquelme's campaign has hinted that former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is their main target for the position. 'My coach is the one Real Madrid fans want,' he said on Wednesday, without revealing a name.
The Perez campaign has sought to dismiss Riquelme's strategy of immediately bringing in superstar names as unrealistic. Perez, meanwhile, has pledged to reinvigorate the squad with new signings of his own and to reduce the inter-team disputes which marred the second half of the season after Alvaro Arbeloa replaced the sacked Xabi Alonso as manager. If he is confirmed as the election winner, the club will confirm the signings of former Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate and Inter full-back Denzel Dumfries, in deals which have already been agreed.
'I always say that in football you don't always win,' Perez said on Wednesday. 'We haven't achieved the expected results, but we've identified the problems. The team couldn't have a pre-season due to the Club World Cup, and that hampered us all year. We had almost 30 injuries in the first half of the season, and that was a decisive factor. We're already working to face the challenges of the new season.'
