Erling Haaland has found himself in the spotlight once again, but this time it’s off the pitch, as he’s being encouraged to leave Manchester City and make a high-profile move to Real Madrid. This comes as the Premier League champions face scrutiny over 115 alleged financial rule breaches between 2009 and 2018. While City firmly deny any wrongdoing, the ongoing hearing—now in its third day—could lead to severe penalties if they are found guilty, ranging from points deductions to massive fines, or in the worst-case scenario, expulsion from the league.
Despite this cloud hanging over the club, City’s performance on the field has been nothing short of stellar. The team has won all four of its opening matches this season, and Haaland’s lethal form has been a crucial factor, with the Norwegian striker already notching up nine goals.
Although Haaland’s current contract with Manchester City runs until 2027, that hasn’t stopped Real Madrid legend Guti from urging his former club to make a move for the prolific forward. Guti, a vocal admirer of Haaland’s talents, made his feelings clear earlier this week, stating, “I would bring Haaland to Real Madrid. He’s been outstanding for a few years now, and I just hope he’s Florentino’s [Pérez] next target. It would be very good for our football.”
This isn’t the first time Guti has pushed for a Haaland transfer to Madrid. Back in 2022, before Haaland’s move from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City, the ex-Real Madrid star warned his former club to act quickly or risk missing out on a once-in-a-generation talent. “Vinicius, Benzema, Haaland, and Mbappe can play together,” Guti said at the time. “If you can have Haaland and Mbappe at Real Madrid, it’s a leap in quality… If they don’t sign Haaland now, they never will.”
For his part, Haaland has remained focused on his present at City. When asked about his future in May, the striker expressed contentment with life at the Etihad, saying, “I’m really happy, especially with the people that I’m surrounded by—the manager, the directors, the board. They are a group of amazing people and I’m really happy.” However, in typical fashion, Haaland left the door slightly ajar for future possibilities, adding, “If I say this now it’s probably going to be a massive headline tomorrow… you never know what the future brings.”
