Erling Haaland has reportedly given the green light for a potential transfer to Leeds United after his proposed move to Real Madrid fell through this summer. The Manchester City striker, who has been linked with a sensational exit from the Etihad, appears set to stay put for now, but has previously expressed a desire to play for Leeds, the club his father represented.
Real Madrid Move Collapses
Speculation about Haaland joining Real Madrid intensified after presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme promised to sign the Norwegian if he won the election. However, Florentino Perez secured victory with 64.8% of the vote, and instead of pursuing Haaland, he pledged to make a club-record offer of at least £130 million for another top European star, later confirmed not to be Haaland. Perez stated the target would be a midfielder who can go forward, ruling out Haaland and other Premier League players.
Haaland's Leeds Dream
Haaland has long harboured a dream to play for Leeds United. His father, Alf-Inge, played for the club from 1997 to 2000, and Haaland was born in Leeds. In a 2017 interview with Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten, Haaland said: "I want to be the best. The dream is to win the Premier League with Leeds. In addition, the goal is to be a better player than Dad was." In 2022, he refused to celebrate scoring against Leeds at Elland Road, calling it a "crazy fantasy" to score there.
City and Haaland's Camp Deny Real Madrid Claims
Manchester City swiftly dismissed Riquelme's claims that Haaland had a release clause and wanted to join Real Madrid. The club stated: "There is no chance of this happening and there is no contractual clause to enable it. We are considering legal action for the use of our player image in this context." Haaland's father and agent, Rafaela Pimenta, also released a joint statement calling the claims "all very entertaining but not true."
Perez's Target Revealed
Perez later clarified his intention to make a significant offer for a player from a major Champions League club, ruling out Haaland, Michael Olise, Jeremy Doku, and Harry Kane. The target is believed to be Olise, but Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer warned: "Michael Olise is an FC Bayern Munich player who still has a long contract - and we are not a selling club. If Florentino Perez wants to send us an offer – which has not been the case so far – he can save himself."
Haaland's Long-Term Commitment
Haaland signed for City from Borussia Dortmund in May 2022 for just over £50 million. He has since won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups, the League Cup, and three Premier League Golden Boot awards. In January 2025, he signed a record-breaking nine-and-a-half-year contract, extending his stay at the Etihad until 2034. While a move to Leeds remains a distant dream, Haaland's immediate future appears to be at Manchester City.
