Manchester City are weighing up legal proceedings against Enrique Riquelme, a candidate seeking to become Real Madrid's next president, after he asserted on Spanish television that he would bring Erling Haaland to the Bernabeu if victorious in Sunday's ballot.
The Premier League champions moved swiftly to rebuff the claims on Thursday morning.
"The stories which have emerged from Spain regarding the future of Erling Haaland are untrue," a club spokesperson stated.
"There is no chance of this happening and there is no contractual clause to enable it."
City added they were exploring legal avenues over the unauthorised use of their player's image during the campaign.
City are furious over claims that Erling Haaland has a 'Real Madrid' clause in his contract
|REUTERS
Riquelme, a 37-year-old renewable energy entrepreneur challenging long-serving president Florentino Perez, made his bold declaration during an appearance on the popular El Hormiguero programme on Wednesday evening.
The businessman held aloft a Real Madrid shirt emblazoned with Haaland's name and the number nine whilst addressing viewers.
"Haaland has a release clause and wants to join Real Madrid," Riquelme declared.
Such was his conviction that he signed a notarised document before the cameras, pledging to cover the annual membership fees for all 100,000 Real Madrid socios should he win the presidency but fail to deliver the Norwegian striker.
The transfer speculation was promptly quashed by those closest to the player. Haaland's father Alfie and his representative Rafaela Pimenta issued a joint statement dismissing Riquelme's assertions.
Enrique Riquelme, a 37-year-old entrepreneur from Alicante, is battling Florentino Perez for the Real Madrid presidency | GETTY"All very entertaining but not true," they said. "We wish all the best for both candidates in the Real Madrid elections."
Their intervention came shortly after Riquelme's television appearance, with the denial reaching English media through transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano.
The Real Madrid presidential contest marks the first time Perez, who is 79, has faced a challenger since 2004. Voting takes place this Sunday.
Erling Haaland signed a blockbuster contract extension in January last year, tying him to City until the summer of 2034
| PAHaaland committed his long-term future to the Etihad when he penned a nine-and-a-half-year contract extension in January 2025, tying him to City until the summer of 2034.
The 25-year-old has proven remarkably prolific since arriving from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, amassing 162 goals across 198 appearances and claiming three Premier League Golden Boot awards.
This season alone, he helped City secure both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup whilst finishing as the league's top scorer with 27 goals.
Riquelme also pledged to bring City midfielder Rodri to the Spanish capital, though the club's statement made no reference to the Spaniard.