- Erling Haaland’s release clause allows him to depart from 2025.
- Premier League Champions want to remove the entire clause or modify its terms
- Real Madrid and Barcelona are both heavily linked with the Ballon d’Or runner up
Haaland, who joined City in 2016, has become the world’s premier striker. His previous goalscoring feats with Borussia Dortmund, Red Bull Salzburg, and City were not a fluke. He was also the runner-up for 2023 Ballon d’Or Winner Lionel Messi ahead of Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian MBappe.
In the summer 2022, he signed a contract with City that included a few clauses similar to those he used at Salzburg and Dortmund. Haaland has since been linked with both Real Madrid, as well as Barcelona. Many believe it is Haaland’s destiny to join one of Spain and the world’s two largest clubs.
90min revealed that City told Haaland’s camp in March of its desire to eliminate a release clause in his contract, while also negotiating better terms. However, his agent Rafaela Pimenta had given him short shrift, as she wanted the 23-year old to have control over his own future.
Pimenta reaffirmed this desire in public last week. He confirmed that Haaland is still the “master of his fate”, while implying that City and only his inner circle are aware of the true value of the release clause.
90min Understands that Haaland’s contract clauses do not come into effect until 2025. Some were even removed when Pep guardiola renewed his contract. City is willing to discuss new deals that would increase the value of the release clause, instead of removing it altogether as had been hoped.
90min is aware that Haaland may not be ready to talk to the hierarchy of City at this time, given his position as one of City’s top earners.
Real Madrid is considered the frontrunner to take on Haaland if and when he leaves, however, their main focus remains to try to bring in Mbappe next summer from PSG.
90min revealed exclusively by the end of September. Barcelona would be in contention for Haaland in 2025, after the club hopes to have overcome the financial problems that plagued it over the last couple of years.
Barca is likely to be searching for a successor long-term by then. Robert Lewandowski will have reached the age of 37 and will enter the last year of his contract, which he signed after joining Bayern Munich.
