Erling Haaland does have a release clause in his contract at Manchester City, despite Pep Guardiola insisting it does not exist.
That’s according to AS, who say the Manchester City boss is being misleading with his public insistence that the striker does not have a clause in his deal.
Haaland joined City in a €60m move from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, with the Premier League champions taking advantage of a release clause in his contract to sign him for a relatively low price.
They beat competition such as Real Madrid to his signature but there is a belief the Spanish giants have not given up hope of signing him in future.
To the contrary, they want him in a couple of years and have been boosted in that pursuit by comments from his father, who has suggested the striker will look to move on in a couple of years’ time.
The insistence in Spain has been that there is a €180m release clause to help him do that, but Pep Guardiola has continually insisted that no such clause exists when asked about it.
That’s not gone down well in Spain, where journalists and newspapers continue to say otherwise and AS join that chorus today.
They explain that Real Madrid ‘know’ that the clause is in the contract and Guardiola’s words don’t change a thing.
Those in charge at the Bernabeu are showing ‘little concern’ about his comments to the media, as they have received word, via third parties, that the €180m clause is solid and signed on.
They believe that Manchester City are simply using diversionary tactics like Borussia Dortmund, who also publicly insisted that there was no such clause despite that not being the case.
The reality, in fact, was very different and it is the same for Manchester City, something all the big clubs in Europe are aware of.
2024 will be the moment Madrid explore their options but first they will have to convince the striker, which is paramount to any further moves.
He was keen on the switch this summer but listened to advice from his father and the late Mino Raiola, who told him he wouldn’t have room to develop with Karim Benzema still in the team.
Contacts with the Spanish giants remained open until the last minute, though, and it will only be a case of continuing to explore that path to get him out of Manchester City when the time comes.
