Real Madrid have decided against making a move for Erling Haaland even if Manchester City face sanctions, according to reports in Spain. The Norwegian striker's future remains uncertain following the ruling that City were found guilty of 114 of 115 charges in their legal battle with the Premier League.
No plans to pursue Haaland
Spanish publication Sport suggests that even should City receive punishment for alleged breaches, it won't trigger interest from Los Blancos. It's claimed there are no plans to pursue Haaland due to the long-term contract he has signed, which was agreed without release clauses.
The practicalities of a switch to Madrid have also been questioned, despite his strong relationship with Jude Bellingham dating back to their Borussia Dortmund days. It's suggested that Haaland wouldn't suit the Madrid framework, which features Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.
Barcelona remain a possibility
Yan Diomande's big-money transfer to Madrid could also prove an obstacle to any potential move should City face serious sanctions. However, a switch to Barcelona remains a possibility, with the Catalan club considered a more suitable destination for the Premier League star.
City expected to appeal
City are anticipated to file an appeal following the outcome of their legal dispute with the Premier League. It leaves the club's supporters in a precarious situation as they endure an anxious wait to discover the severity of penalties imposed.
The potential consequences appear limitless, with various sanctions on the table including fines, points deductions, removal from the Premier League or annulment of titles secured between 2009-10 and 2017-18. Roberto Mancini, who managed City throughout the timeframe under scrutiny, dismissed the ruling and maintained that City are innocent of any misconduct.
Football finance specialist Kieran Maguire suggests the penalties imposed on Nottingham Forest and Everton have established a benchmark after their respective points deductions for financial violations. He told TalkTV: "There is no doubt a points deduction would be the most likely outcome in the view of many.
"We have seen points deductions before for Nottingham Forest and Everton for breach of the financial limit rules, so that is feasible. There is a separate issue of whether clubs who have missed out on titles, could they put in for financial compensation for not getting into Europe and loss of prize money."
