The Norwegian goal machine has been making headlines for his incredible performances at Manchester City this season, but now, it seems his future could take an interesting direction. With the news of the clause on his potential new contract, both Real Madrid and Barcelona are keeping a close eye on him.
Manchester City fans have certainly been thrilled by the presence of a proper centre forward in the form of Erling Haaland. He has by far surpassed expectations in terms of goals, and though he has been criticized for his all-round play and contribution to the team, he remains very important to the team’s success.
The Cityzens who are now used to their team scoring lots of goals at the Etihad, can now purchase Man City tickets from an online resale store to enjoy more of the City fiesta.
A bumper new deal for the Norwegian star?
Haaland joined Manchester City in 2022 after leaving Borussia Dortmund, and in just two years, he has proven to be one of the best strikers in the world. He signed a five-year deal with City, but now, as the third year of his contract approaches, the club is keen to secure his future with a new contract.
Manchester City is reportedly working on a deal to make Haaland the highest-paid player in their squad, surpassing even Kevin De Bruyne, who is currently their top earner. This would be a massive recognition of Haaland’s contribution to the team. However, there is a catch. In these contract negotiations, Haaland’s demands include something that could open the door for a move to Real Madrid or Barcelona who have shown interest in the past.
Haaland, who has dreams of playing for Real Madrid, has requested that a release clause be included in any new contract with Manchester City, which could allow the club to swoop in if they can pay the fee.
This is not the first time a release clause has played a big role in Haaland’s career. Manchester City were able to sign him from Borussia Dortmund because of a release clause in his contract.
He was signed by Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund for a ‘very cheap’ £52 million in an inflated transfer market due to the presence of the release clause in his deal.
From Manchester City’s perspective, the idea of Haaland leaving one day is not something they want to think about at the moment.
Losing a player of his calibre would be a huge blow. That is probably why they are trying to tie him down to a new deal without any release clause. However, Haaland and his team want to keep their options open.
By including a release clause, Haaland ensures that he has some control over his future. If Real Madrid or Barcelona come calling in a few years, he would have the option to move, assuming they can meet the fee set in the clause.
City find themselves in a tricky position. They want to keep Haaland happy and reward him for his performances, but they also would not want to lose him for cheap. It will be interesting to see how these contract talks play out and whether Haaland gets his wish of a release clause.
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The ‘Magic’ of Real Madrid and Barcelona’s interest in Haaland
Both Real Madrid and Barcelona are always on the lookout for the best players in the world, and Haaland certainly fits into that description. Real Madrid, in particular, has a history of signing world-class players, like the Galacticos of the early ’00s, Cristiano Ronaldo, and more recently Kylian Mbappe, who finally joined the club this summer. While they might not be looking to make another big signing right now, Haaland’s availability in the future should catch their attention.
Barcelona, on the other hand, is rebuilding their squad after a few tough seasons. Signing a player like Haaland could help them compete at the highest level once again. They were interested in Haaland when he left Dortmund, but City beat them to the chase. Now, with this potential release clause, Barcelona might have another shot at landing the striker.
Haaland’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, has already dropped some hints about her client’s possible interest in playing for Real Madrid one day. In an interview last year, she said, “There is the Premier League, and then there is also Madrid. They have something of their own that is also the dream for players. Madrid keeps this magic going. They don’t have the weekly competitions, but they have the Champions League.”
One thing that has become clear from the recent reports swirling is that Haaland is in control of his career. His agent, Pimenta, has called him “the master of his destiny,” meaning that he is the one who will ultimately decide where he plays. Whether he stays at Manchester City for the long term or moves to Spain in the future, Haaland will make the decision that is best for him.
Real Madrid and Barcelona know this, which is why they are keeping a close eye on the situation. If Haaland does become available, they will surely be in the race to sign him.
For now, he seems very happy in Manchester and will seek to keep breaking more records, whether it is left, right, or centre.
Conclusion
Erling Haaland has continued from where he stopped last season and has already hit 7 goals in three games. While Manchester City is keen to keep him, the possibility of a release clause in his new contract has put Real Madrid and Barcelona on high alert. Haaland’s future could be in Spain, and both La Liga giants will be watching closely to see how these contract negotiations unfold.
For now, Haaland continues to dominate in the Premier League, but the possibility of a move to La Liga remains an intriguing prospect for the goal machine. Next up for Haaland and Co is a tie vs Brentford on Saturday.
