Erling Haaland’s shock stance on leaving Man City as contract details ‘leaked’

Erling Haaland would reportedly ask to leave Manchester City if they were relegated as a result of being found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League.

On Friday (September 25), City were found guilty of all but one of the charges brought against them by the Premier League, with potential punishments ranging from large fines and points deductions to expulsion from the Premier League. City have appealed the verdict.

Everyone associated with the club is now awaiting the potential punishment, with many dreading the thought of playing in a lower division.

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Erling Haaland’s stance on leaving City if they are relegated

It appears Haaland has no intention of playing his football in a division lower than the Premier League, despite being under contract at the Etihad until 2034.

According to Football Insider, both Arsenal and Real Madrid have ‘made contact’ with Haaland’s representatives, with the Norway international reportedly having no intention of staying at City to help them rebuild should they be relegated. Barcelona are also said to be keen on the 26-year-old.

It has also been widely reported that neither Haaland nor his City teammates have a relegation clause written into their current deals, which gives City a degree of protection against a mass exodus.

“There is a feeling at the Etihad Stadium that it is "inconceivable" that the 26-year-old would stay and play Championship football, but the club won't accept a cut-price deal,” FI's Pete O’Rourke reported.

"Sources say that several of Europe's leading clubs are "ready to pounce" on a deal for the Norwegian if City are relegated."

Haaland, who earns around £500,000 per week at City, has netted 169 goals in 205 appearances since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.

City bosses remain confident despite negative 115 charges verdict

City were first charged in February 2023 over alleged financial breaches relating to nine years between 2009 and 2018. City won three Premier League titles during this period.

An independent commission reviewed the case between September 2024 and December 2024.

Despite the negative verdict, bosses maintain the club’s innocence and say City have “a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position”.

On Monday (September 28), club CEO Ferran Soriano vowed to continue fighting against the Premier League, telling hundreds of club executives: “It has taken eight years to reach this point and it will still take much more time," at a European Football Clubs (EFC) meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark.

This came after City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak issued a lengthy statement on September 26, claiming the “Premier League process still has a long way to run” while doubling down on the club’s innocence.

“Following Friday’s media reporting, many of you will have spent your evening answering questions and responding to messages from friends, family and colleagues,” part of the statement read.

“So have I. Here’s what I said to my family: The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the Club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began.

“There are so many things that I would like to be able to share with you to help you understand why we feel so confident in our position. But the strict confidentiality of the legal process and our determination to respect it means I cannot do that at the moment. Even this letter underwent several legal checks to make sure it complies.

“I ask you to please carefully read the statement below, which we gave on Friday, and the statement we issued in February 2023 (also below). Every word matters and holds true.

“While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions, and there is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed. We have faced challenges together before and have prevailed. There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our Club. We will not give them that opportunity.”

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Man City’s 115 charges in full

Here is a full breakdown of the charges brought against City by the Premier League:

• Failure to provide accurate financial information giving a true and fair view of the club’s financial position from 2009/10 to and including 2017/18 – 54 alleged breaches
• Failure to co-operate with and assist the Premier League’s investigation from December 2018 to February 2023 – 35 alleged breaches
• Failure to provide full details of manager remuneration from 2009/10 to 2012/13 and player remuneration from 2010/11 to 2015/16 – 14 alleged breaches
• Breaches of Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules from 2015/16 to and including 2017/18 – seven alleged breaches
• Failure to comply with UEFA regulations, including its Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations, from 2013/14 to and including 2017/18 – five alleged breaches

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