Manchester City Threaten Legal Action Against Real Madrid Presidential Candidate Enrique Riquelme Over Erling Haaland Transfer Claims

Manchester City are considering legal action against Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme after he publicly claimed he would sign Erling Haaland should he win Sunday’s club election — a claim the Premier League side have categorically rejected.

Riquelme made the assertion during a television appearance, where he stated he would also sign midfielder Rodri if elected Real Madrid president. He went further by displaying what he described as supporting documents, alongside a Haaland shirt, to substantiate the claims. The appearance drew an immediate and forceful response from the Etihad club.

“The stories which have emerged from Spain regarding the future of Erling Haaland are untrue,” a Manchester City spokesperson said in an official statement. “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.”

The club’s concerns extend specifically to the unauthorised use of Haaland’s image during Riquelme’s political campaign for the Real Madrid presidency. Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed on June 4, 2026 that City were actively exploring legal options in response.

Haaland’s representatives were equally dismissive of the speculation. In a joint statement, the striker’s agent Rafaela Pimenta and his father Alfie Haaland said: “All very entertaining but not true. We wish all the best for both candidates in the Madrid elections.”

The 25-year-old’s long-term future at Manchester City had appeared secure well before this controversy. Haaland signed a record-breaking 10-year contract at the Etihad Stadium in January 2025, and as recently as April 2026, he told reporters he was “super happy” at the club — comments that further undermine the basis of Riquelme’s claims.

Riquelme is challenging incumbent president Florentino Perez in the Real Madrid presidential election scheduled for Sunday. His pledge to sign both Haaland and Rodri — the latter also a Manchester City player — appears designed to bolster his electoral credentials, though neither club has indicated any willingness to facilitate such transfers.

Haaland has been one of the most prolific strikers in Premier League history since joining City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022. His goal-scoring records in his debut season alone reshaped expectations of what forwards could achieve in English football, and he has remained central to Pep Guardiola’s system ever since.

Whether City pursue formal legal proceedings remains to be seen, but the club’s public stance signals they will not allow their player’s image to be used for political purposes without challenge. The outcome of Sunday’s Real Madrid election will also determine whether Riquelme retains any platform to continue making such claims.