Contrary to Guardiola’s claim, Haaland has a release clause
The Norwegian forward signed a five-year deal with the Premier League champions this summer
Contrary to the claim by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, club striker Erling Haaland would be allowed to leave Manchester City in two years if a foreign club pays his €200 million release clause.
The Norwegian forward signed a five-year deal with the Premier League champions this summer after Pep Guardiola’s side fought off competition from Real Madrid to land the 22-year-old.
But The Times understands the release clause in his deal can be activated in 2024 by a club outside of the Premier League, if they are prepared to pay €200 million (just over £175 million).
The amount is more than three times the £51 million that City paid Borussia Dortmund to bring him to the Etihad last summer and would make him the second most expensive footballer of all time, behind Neymar, should a club decide to meet the clause.
The Brazilian joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 for £194 million.
Haaland’s prolific goal-scoring record led to interest from a number of clubs this summer, but it was a two-horse race between City and Real Madrid to secure his signature.
Real would no doubt be interested in signing Haaland in 2024 when the option on his contract can be triggered.
Haaland has taken the Premier League by storm, scoring 15 goals in nine appearances, but was rested for City’s Champions League stalemate against Copenhagen on Tuesday night with Guardiola explaining the 22-year-old was tired.
“He finished the game against Southampton so, so tired and didn’t recover well,” Guardiola explained. “Yesterday was not good, today a little better but not perfect so we decided not to take the risk.”
City travel to Anfield at the weekend looking to maintain their unbeaten run in the Premier League. Guardiola’s side have scored ten goals in their last two league games and have won seven of their opening nine games.
Haaland’s arrival has given City an extra dimension and the Norwegian is already being backed to break all goalscoring records after such a dominant start to the season.
