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The race for the Real Madrid presidency has intensified as candidate Enrique Riquelme stands firm on his ambitious statements involving Manchester City stars Erling Haaland and Rodri. The 37-year-old businessman remains resolute despite strong denials from City and the players' representatives, maintaining that he has a concrete plan to bring two of the Premier League’s biggest names to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Riquelme doubles down on Haaland clause claims

Riquelme has reiterated his determination to sign Haaland, brushing off the striker’s camp’s rebuttals as “a normal part of the process.”

Following his much-discussed appearance on the Spanish TV show El Hormiguero, where he asserted that Haaland “wants to come to Madrid,” Riquelme later clarified his stance in an interview with AS. He emphasised that the Norwegian striker remains a cornerstone of his campaign and that there is a contractual clause that could make the move possible.

“Haaland has a clause. He’s a major target, and we’ve been working on this for a while,” Riquelme said. “One must remember that this is an election. There’s a contest to be won. I understand that the club and his team have to protect the player. That’s natural. But I’m pleased to say that if I become president, players like Haaland will wear the Real Madrid shirt.”

Rejecting denials from Pimenta and Alfie Haaland

Riquelme’s campaign encountered turbulence after Haaland’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, and his father, Alfie Haaland, issued a joint statement declaring the claims “untrue.” However, Riquelme dismissed their remarks, drawing parallels with the famous Luis Figo saga in 2000, when Real Madrid pulled off one of football’s most shocking transfers from Barcelona despite similar public denials.

Responding to criticism, Riquelme commented, “It’s part of the game — you know this better than anyone. The same thing happened with Figo; such situations are part of football. We have spoken before and after, also with Pablo (Barquero), Rodri’s agent. I’m fully aware that discussions with City are necessary. Rodri’s case differs from Haaland’s, but City must be involved. We have the utmost respect for the club.”

Offering personal financial commitment to members

To strengthen his credibility among Real Madrid’s voting members, Riquelme has pledged his own finances as a guarantee. He vowed that if his transfer promises remain unfulfilled, he will personally pay the membership fees for all registered Madridistas. This bold move is intended to underscore his trust in his own vision and contrast with the long-standing leadership of incumbent president Florentino Perez.

“To win the members’ trust, I’ve made a personal guarantee — if I fail to deliver, I’ll personally cover the fees for the 100,000 Real Madrid members, which totals about €15 million,” Riquelme said. “I can’t seek members’ trust without believing in my own project. I won’t risk my personal, professional, or club reputation by making empty promises.”

Maintaining respect for Manchester City

Despite his confidence, Riquelme acknowledged that formal negotiations with Manchester City will be required to secure both Haaland and Rodri. He revealed that his campaign team has already reached out privately to the English champions to prevent any misunderstandings arising from his public comments.

Concluding his remarks, Riquelme said, “This is an entertainment show — football is football, and this is part of the game. We must keep talking with full respect to City. We’ve already sent a private message to them this Wednesday to ensure there’s no confusion due to language or interpretation issues. Everything is clear.”