Erling Haaland's father has hinted his son could leave Manchester City if the club is heavily punished over its financial rule breaches. The Norwegian striker is the Premier League's top scorer this season, with nine goals in his opening nine top-flight appearances.
The former Borussia Dortmund forward failed to score in City's 1-0 home defeat by Brighton at the weekend. The result allowed Arsenal to leapfrog City to the top of the table after the champions ended a 14-year winless run at Anfield with a 1-0 victory over Liverpool.
City Await Sentencing Over 115 Breaches
City are still awaiting their sentencing after an independent commission found them guilty of 115 breaches of financial rules dating back to 2009. The club remains entangled in a lengthy appeals process.
Commentators, pundits and fans have speculated about a range of hypothetical punishments. Should the club be relegated or handed a huge points deduction, many believe its stars, including Haaland, would likely depart.
Father Speaks on Son's Future
Asked about his son's future should the club be sanctioned, Alf-Inge Haaland said: "Well, Juventus was match-fixing and a few other things. I think we should await the appeal process. It could happen quickly, even though there are rival supporters, clubs, and not least journalists who are out for blood against City right now."
He added: "So we'll just have to wait and see what the appeal outcome says. City believe they have strong evidence to stand up and prove their innocence, so I think we wait until that decision is reached. Erling thinks about playing as much football as he can and concentrates on that. I think it's more those of us outside the pitch who think a bit more about it."
Interest From Arsenal and Real Madrid
Arsenal have previously been linked with a move for the striker, while Real Madrid are also thought to hold an interest. Haaland finished eighth in the 2026 Ballon d'Or rankings, which were topped by Bayern Munich and England's Harry Kane.
