Manchester City is persisting in its efforts to initiate discussions with Erling Haaland’s representatives regarding a new contract, as per information obtained.
The Norwegian sensation has built on the success of his remarkable first season in England, where City secured the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup. Haaland has once again topped the goalscoring charts with 17 goals in 18 appearances across all competitions.
Since joining City, Haaland has solidified his position as the premier striker in world football. His outstanding goal-scoring performances at Borussia Dortmund and Red Bull Salzburg were no fluke, evident in his runner-up finish to the 2023 Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, ahead of Kylian Mbappe.
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Upon joining City in the summer of 2022, Haaland signed a five-year contract with several clauses, similar to his agreements with Dortmund and Salzburg. Despite his success, he has been consistently linked to Real Madrid and Barcelona, with speculation about his eventual move to one of Spain’s premier clubs.
In March, it was reported that City expressed the desire to eliminate a specific release clause from Haaland’s contract while negotiating improved terms. However, his agent, Rafaela Pimenta, rejected this proposal, emphasizing Haaland’s desire to control his future. Pimenta publicly reiterated this stance recently, confirming that Haaland remains the ‘master of his destiny,’ and only City and his inner circle know the value of his release clause.
Insider information suggests that the clauses in Haaland’s contract won’t become active until 2025, and City is now open to softening its stance. They are willing to discuss a new deal that increases the release clause’s value, rather than removing it entirely, as was initially hoped.
As it stands, Haaland’s camp may be open to considering such a proposal. However, given that he is already one of City’s top earners, there is no urgency to initiate talks with the club’s leadership, according to information obtained.
Real Madrid is considered the frontrunner to sign Haaland if he decides to leave City, but their current focus is on attempting to secure the services of Mbappe from PSG in the upcoming summer.
As exclusively revealed by in September, Barcelona is also positioned to compete for Haaland from 2025 onward. The club aims to address the financial challenges that have impacted them in recent years by that time.
By 2025, Barcelona will be seeking a long-term successor to Robert Lewandowski, who will be approaching 37 years of age and entering the final year of the contract he signed upon joining from Bayern Munich.