Real Madrid Candidate Promises Haaland Signing Amid Election Showdown
In a bold election pledge, Enrique Riquelme, a candidate for the Real Madrid presidency, has vowed to sign Erling Haaland from Manchester City if he wins against incumbent Florentino Perez in the upcoming vote on Sunday. During his appearance on the TV show "El Hormiguero" on Wednesday night, Riquelme showcased a Real Madrid shirt emblazoned with ‘Haaland 9’ and also expressed intentions to recruit Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder. Riquelme stated, "If I break my promises regarding either of these players, I've signed a guarantee where I'd pay 100 percent of membership costs for next season." He emphasized Haaland's interest in joining Madrid, noting that the player has a release clause. Despite Riquelme’s assertions, Haaland's father, Alfe Haaland, and his agent, Rafaela Pimenta, quickly refuted these claims, stating, "All very entertaining but not true. We wish all the best for both candidates in the Madrid elections." On the same night, Perez revealed his own election strategy, featuring Jose Mourinho in a video saying “yes,” amid speculation of the former manager's return to the club. Perez is aiming for his eighth term and seeks to bring Mourinho back to the Bernabeu after a trophyless two seasons. As the first contested election since 2006, Real Madrid's members will ultimately decide the club's future direction.
Source: The Independent Sport - 2026-06-04