There’s never a dull moment when it comes to Erling Haaland’s future, is there? Well… Here’s the scoop: Manchester City are “increasingly confident” that he’ll sign a new deal to stay at the Etihad Stadium. But, here’s the catch — they’ve reportedly “come to terms” with the fact that they can’t get rid of those pesky release clauses in his contract.
ICYMI: Ever since he signed to Man City in the summer of 2022, Haaland has been an absolute phenomenon. Breaking records left, right, and center in his debut season, he’s become a crucial piece of Pep Guardiola’s unstoppable machine. Naturally, City are desperate to keep him around for as long as possible.
But there’s a twist. His current contract includes “multiple release clauses that decrease year upon year,” and that’s what’s got everyone talking.
What to Expect 🙂
What’s the Deal with the Release Clauses?
From 2025 onwards, Haaland’s release clause reportedly drops to somewhere between €175 million and €200 million. However, some reports claim it could be as low as €100 million. Yikes! It could’ve been better for City if it went the other way around. But, anyway.
Get this, Cityzens: That means if a club like Real Madrid or Barcelona throws down the cash, City could be powerless to stop him from leaving. And guess what? Spain has always held a special place in Haaland’s heart. According to the report, “the idea of playing in Spain, his home country and by extension, the country he has spent a lot of time in ever since childhood, appeals to the player.”
City Confident of Securing Haaland’s Future
Here’s the good news: City aren’t sweating too much. Talks with Haaland’s representative, Rafaela Pimenta, have been ongoing for two years, and the club is optimistic about sealing the deal. Graeme Bailey explains:
“City are confident about agreeing terms. They’ve been trying for two years. Obviously, the issue has always been the release clauses, which are not going to be removed from the contracts in any way, shape or form. It’s not going to happen. City have come to terms with that.”
But wait, there’s a silver lining. Bailey continues:
“Their hope is that they can be altered in terms of when they come into play. If he signs a new deal for instance in the next few weeks or months, which City hope, that will, from my understanding, mean it won’t be allowed to be triggered until 2026 rather than 2025.”
Why the Clauses Aren’t a Dealbreaker
Even with these clauses in place, City aren’t too worried. The buyout fees are still astronomical, and Haaland’s camp insists the clauses are standard practice for his contracts — not an escape plan.
Apparently: The proposed deal will reportedly include a massive wage bump for Haaland, though money isn’t the primary concern here. What’s key is ensuring the Norwegian striker stays put for at least the short term, quelling any speculation about a summer exit.
Cityzens, don’t panic just yet. Bailey explains that these release clauses are nothing new for Haaland:
“They’re not massively worried as the clauses are going to be huge anyway for teams to meet that. And Haaland has always had these in, they make sure these are in there for the long-term safety of the player.”
He also points out:
“It’s just the situation that every contract Haaland has ever signed has had release clauses and that’s not going to change for this one. It’s nothing to do with him, or an exit strategy or anything like that, it’s just how they work.”
What’s Next for Haaland and City?
City’s confidence in securing Haaland for a few more years is growing stronger. According to Bailey:
“City, from my understanding, are increasingly confident that he’ll agree. Obviously [Ferran] Soriano is very busy with [Pep] Guardiola as well. They think Haaland will commit to a new deal.”
Of course, this new deal will come with a huge wage increase for the Norwegian star. But as Bailey puts it:
“Money wasn’t really the issue particularly. It will at least extend his stay in the short-term and completely put an end to any talk he may go in the summer.”
Cityzens, the Future is Bright
It’s time to breathe easy, Blues! With Haaland potentially committing to a new deal, which he more than likely would, the chances of him continuing to smash records —and trophies— at the Etihad Stadium look strong.
While the release clauses add a bit of drama, one thing’s for sure: Haaland and City are still a match made in footballing heaven. Let’s keep those goals flowing. Plus, Pep Guardiola is more than likely extending his contract at City, so all things being equal.
