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Haaland's camp dismisses Real Madrid election pledge as 'entertaining but not true'

Presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme promised to sign Erling Haaland and Rodri if he defeats Florentino Perez in Sunday's Real Madrid election, but Haaland's father and agent Rafaela Pimenta swiftly denied the claim in a joint statement.

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Haaland's camp dismisses Real Madrid election pledge as 'entertaining but not true'
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Erling Haaland’s father Alfie and agent Rafaela Pimenta have dismissed a pledge by Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme to sign the Manchester City striker, calling it “all very entertaining but not true” in a joint statement issued on Wednesday.

Riquelme made the promise during an appearance on Spanish TV show El Hormiguero, holding up a Real Madrid shirt bearing ‘Haaland 9’ on the back and vowing also to sign City midfielder Rodri if he defeats incumbent Florentino Perez in Sunday’s membership vote — the club’s first contested presidential election since 2006. To underline his commitment, Riquelme claimed he had signed a personal guarantee to cover 100 per cent of members’ costs for next season should he fail to deliver on either signing. “Haaland has a release clause, and he wants to come to Madrid,” he said, according to ESPN.

Haaland signed a 10-year contract with Manchester City last year that runs until 2034, and the swift rebuttal from his camp leaves little ambiguity about the validity of Riquelme’s claims. “We wish all the best for both candidates in the Madrid elections,” the statement from Alfie Haaland and Pimenta added.

Perez, seeking an eighth term as president, made his own headline on the same evening by revealing an image of José Mourinho in a Real Madrid shirt alongside the word “yes”, fuelling speculation that the Portuguese manager is set to return to the Bernabéu. Mourinho’s previous spell at the club lasted three years before ending in 2013, and he has been linked with a comeback following two consecutive trophy-less seasons under current management.

The path appears to be clearing for Mourinho’s potential return. Fulham manager Marco Silva is reported to be in line to replace Mourinho at Benfica, which would free the former Chelsea, Manchester United, and Inter Milan coach to take up a new role in Madrid.

The outcome of Sunday’s vote, decided by the club’s membership, will determine not only who leads Real Madrid but also which of these high-profile promises — if any — moves closer to reality.

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