Real Madrid presidential hopeful claims Haaland and Rodri are his top transfer targets

Enrique Riquelme, the Spanish businessman challenging Florentino Perez for the Real Madrid presidency, has named Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and midfielder Rodri as his primary transfer targets should he win the election — claims that Haaland’s camp have already dismissed as false.

Riquelme made the declarations during an appearance on Spanish television programme El Hormiguero, where he went as far as displaying a Real Madrid shirt bearing Haaland’s name and the number nine. He asserted that Haaland holds a release clause in his City contract and personally wants to join Real Madrid, and pledged to back his claims with a notarised personal guarantee.

“Haaland has a clause in his contract and wants to come to Real Madrid,” Riquelme told presenter Pablo Matos. “I’m committing to signing a personal notarised guarantee for the two players I’ve announced. If I fail to do so, I will pay 100% of the membership fees of all 100,000 Real Madrid members.”

Haaland’s father Alfie and agent Rafaele Pimeta moved quickly to shut down the claims, telling transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano: “All very entertaining but NOT true. We wish all the best for both candidates in the Real Madrid elections.”

There is no suggestion from Manchester City that either player is available for transfer, nor that either has expressed a desire to leave.

On Rodri, Riquelme was more measured but equally bullish. “He’s a tremendous player who plays in a position that Madrid needs to strengthen,” he said. “We’ve spoken with his agent; we have to respect his club, but if I were president, he’d be playing for Real Madrid. I’ll do everything I can.”

The television appearance came as Perez was simultaneously announcing that José Mourinho could return to the club if he retained the presidency. Riquelme did not name Perez directly but acknowledged Mourinho’s credentials while ruling him out of his own project. He confirmed he would reveal his preferred managerial candidate on Friday 6 June.

Riquelme’s declarations are the latest salvo in what has become a high-profile presidential campaign, with both candidates using marquee names to generate momentum ahead of the election. For now, however, the two City players at the centre of the story remain firmly at the Etihad.