Manchester City stars caught in Real Madrid’s political games

Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme has reaffirmed his ambitious plans to bring Manchester City stars Erling Haaland and Rodri to the Santiago Bernabeu, despite strong denials from the players’ representatives. 

The businessman, who is challenging long-serving president Florentino Perez, insists he has a clear strategy to secure the high-profile signings if elected.

Riquelme recently sparked widespread debate after claiming that Haaland was interested in joining Real Madrid.

Speaking again on the matter, he maintained that the Norwegian striker remains a realistic target and pointed to what he described as a contractual clause that could make a future move possible. 

The candidate said his campaign had been working on the proposal for some time and remained confident of its viability.

His comments were swiftly challenged by Haaland’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, and the striker’s father, Alfie Haaland, who publicly dismissed the claims as inaccurate. 

However, Riquelme brushed aside the criticism, arguing that such denials are common during major transfer sagas. 

He compared the situation to the famous transfer of Luis Figo from Barcelona to Real Madrid, suggesting that public statements often differ from private negotiations.

The presidential hopeful also revealed that discussions had taken place with representatives connected to both Haaland and Rodri. 

While acknowledging that any potential transfer would require negotiations with Manchester City, Riquelme stressed that he and his team have maintained a respectful approach toward the Premier League champions throughout the process.

In a bold attempt to win over Real Madrid’s voting members, Riquelme has attached personal financial guarantees to his campaign promises. 

He pledged that if he fails to fulfil his key transfer commitments, he would personally cover the annual membership fees of approximately 100,000 club members. 

The proposal, worth an estimated €15 million, is intended to demonstrate his confidence in delivering on his vision for the club.

Despite the headlines generated by his remarks, Riquelme emphasized that he respects Manchester City’s position and understands the complexity of any potential deal. 

He confirmed that private communication had already been established with the English club to clarify his public comments, insisting that transparency and respect would remain central to any future negotiations involving Haaland, Rodri, or any other transfer targets