Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has recently responded to the renewed speculation surrounding Erling Haaland and his potential transfer to Real Madrid. The rumours have been circulating in Spain, but Guardiola has taken a light-hearted approach, insisting that the striker will only leave if he becomes unhappy at Manchester City.
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, said:
"You have to ask the media from Madrid, maybe they have more info than we have. We don't have that feeling,"
"He could not play for two months because he was injured but maybe the media from Spain, and especially Madrid, have more information than us. We cannot say he didn't adapt quickly and he was not fine since he arrived. It's the level he showed since he arrived on day one. We cannot control what people say. When he's unhappy, he will take his decision."
Erling Haaland made a comeback during City's comfortable 3-1 victory in the Burnley fixture on Wednesday night after missing ten games due to a foot stress fracture. Before his absence from the field, the Norwegian had scored an impressive 19 times in just 23 games. This follows his historic performance during the 2022/23 campaign.
Real Madrid have reportedly shifted to Haaland from Mbappe
Real Madrid has shown interest in acquiring both Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe for quite some time now. The speculation around this potential move intensified following conjecture from El Chiringuito host Josep Pedrerol. He claimed that regular contact is being maintained between the LaLiga club and Haaland’s camp.
Another report suggests that there is a belief within certain circles that moving to Bernabeu would provide greater recognition for him when it comes to prestigious awards such as Ballon d'Or and Best FIFA awards.
However, when asked about these speculations on Friday, Guardiola brushed them off as mere jokes.
Erling Haaland has been sensation for Manchester City
Haaland joined Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund back in summer of 2022. The Premier League club used a release clause present in his contract with Dortmund to secure what many consider being one of the best strikers globally for £51m - well below his real market value.
However, one of the conditions agreed upon was including another release clause into his new contract with Manchester City – potentially paving way for future transfer speculations.
While the rumours of Erling Haaland's potential move to Real Madrid continue to circulate, Manchester City's manager Pep Guardiola maintains a light-hearted stance. He insists that the Norwegian striker will only leave if he becomes unhappy at Manchester City.
As sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts, it is always exciting to follow these developments and speculate on possible outcomes. However, for now, it seems like Haaland is here to stay in Manchester City unless circumstances change drastically.
