The story of Erling Haaland and Manchester City has always felt like something straight out of a movie, a drama of power, money, glory and the pull of Europe’s biggest clubs. When Manchester City signed the towering Norwegian striker back in 2022, many thought it was only a matter of time before Real Madrid or Barcelona came knocking again. After all, both clubs have spent decades convincing the world that no matter how strong other teams may look, the very best footballers eventually end up at the Santiago Bernabéu or the Camp Nou. But things have not gone exactly that way for Haaland. The striker has settled into life in Manchester, breaking record after record, and has now signed one of the longest deals in football history, a contract that ties him to City until 2034. That decision alone has shaken the football world because it means that unless something dramatic happens, Haaland could spend the best years of his career at the Etihad. Yet, as always in football, nothing is ever completely certain, and new reports have emerged suggesting that Real Madrid and Barcelona are quietly preparing plans to tempt him away in 2026.
The whispers began with stories that City were planning a massive squad overhaul after what many described as a disappointing season under Pep Guardiola. For a club that had gotten used to winning everything, a season without major trophies was seen as a disaster, and there were even suggestions that some of the club’s most important players could be sacrificed in order to freshen up the team. Naturally, when such reports come out, the name of Erling Haaland is always one of the first to appear. It is easy to understand why. He is the most marketable striker in Europe, the kind of player that guarantees goals no matter what system he plays in. His physicality, his movement, his ability to turn half-chances into goals, all of it makes him priceless. For clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona, whose entire brand is built on having the world’s biggest stars, Haaland represents the dream signing.
But for now, that dream looks impossible. Sources close to the player have made it very clear that Haaland is happy in Manchester and has no plans to leave. On the latest Inside Track podcast, transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke explained that City are not even considering the idea of selling their number nine. He revealed that Haaland is central to Guardiola’s plans and the club views him as untouchable. That stance was backed up by the fact that in January Haaland signed a breathtaking nine-year contract, an agreement that shocked the footballing community. Deals of that length are almost unheard of in modern football, especially for players of his stature. For City, it was a statement that they were willing to break all the usual rules of football contracts in order to make sure Haaland remains at the heart of their project for the next decade.
The length of that contract tells its own story. It is not just about keeping him at City, it is about building everything around him. Guardiola has lost some of his long-serving soldiers already. Kevin De Bruyne, the man who has defined City’s midfield for so many years, is no longer part of the picture. Kyle Walker, another warrior of the Guardiola era, also left during the summer. These departures show that Pep is reshaping his team, saying goodbye to players who had been with him through all the victories, and bringing in fresh faces for the next phase of his reign. But throughout all of this change, one thing has remained constant: Haaland’s role as the centrepiece. City know that with him up front, they always have a chance. Even in games where they struggle, he can produce the one moment of magic that makes the difference.
Already this season he has reminded everyone why he is so highly valued. Six goals in five games for City is the kind of return that makes him look like a machine rather than a human being. For his country Norway, he went even further, scoring five goals in a single game as they demolished Moldova 11-1. Performances like these explain why Madrid and Barcelona remain obsessed with the idea of signing him. To them, he is not just another player, he is the future of the game, the man who could define the next decade of football just as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo defined the last one.
Madrid in particular have been linked with him for years. They see Haaland as the perfect successor to Karim Benzema and the natural partner for Kylian Mbappé, should both ever end up at the Bernabéu. Barcelona, on the other hand, are desperate for a new superstar to take over from the fading memories of Messi. Their young prodigy Lamine Yamal may be lighting up La Liga, but adding a name like Haaland would transform the club’s image and finances overnight. The problem, however, is that Haaland himself does not seem interested. As O’Rourke pointed out, he is a happy man in Manchester. City are happy with him, and there is no sign of him wanting to walk away from what he has built. Unless he suddenly decides that he wants a new challenge, it is very hard to imagine him leaving anytime soo
This has not stopped people from speculating though. In football, loyalty can change quickly. Just because Haaland has signed until 2034 does not mean he will actually stay until then. Contracts are not unbreakable, especially when clubs like Real Madrid are involved. If in 2026 they decide to put together a package worth hundreds of millions, both for the club and the player, then maybe the situation will change. Madrid have a history of getting what they want. They waited for years before finally landing Eden Hazard. They played the long game with Kylian Mbappé until he finally agreed to join. They have always believed that the biggest stars belong to them, and they are unlikely to abandon the chase for Haaland without a fight.
Guardiola, for his part, has made it clear that he is desperate to keep Haaland. After losing some of his trusted players this summer, the last thing he needs is to watch his number one striker walk away. He knows that City’s future success depends heavily on Haaland staying and delivering goals. Guardiola’s system has always required a striker who can finish the endless chances created by midfielders. For years he worked with false nines because he did not have the right man. But once Haaland arrived, everything clicked. The Norwegian gave City the edge they had been missing, the killer instinct in front of goal that made them almost unbeatable. Losing him would mean ripping up the system all over again, something Guardiola has no intention of doing.
The bigger picture at City also matters. The club are going through a period of massive change. After dominating English football for so long, last season felt like a step backwards. The hunger to return to the very top is driving their decisions. Guardiola is reshaping the squad, looking for players who will lead the next cycle of dominance. Haaland is the one name that cannot be touched in this rebuild. Even as talk of Bernardo Silva possibly leaving for Benfica grows louder, and as other long-term stars say goodbye, Haaland is safe. The message from City is clear: he is going nowhere.
For the fans, this is a huge relief. They know that with Haaland, they always have a reason to believe. Without him, the team would feel vulnerable. Every time he steps onto the pitch, there is the expectation of goals. The atmosphere at the Etihad is different when he plays. His presence lifts the crowd, it terrifies defenders, it gives teammates confidence. This is why City broke all the rules to give him a nine-year contract. They wanted to send a message not just to Madrid and Barcelona, but to the entire footballing world: Haaland is ours.
Yet, football is unpredictable. Today he is committed to Manchester, tomorrow things could be different. That is the reality of the modern game. Players want new challenges, agents want new deals, clubs want new stars. For now though, Erling Haaland remains the face of Manchester City’s future. He is tied down until 2034, scoring goals for fun, and building a legacy at the Etihad. Real Madrid and Barcelona can wait and dream, but unless something dramatic happens in the next year or two, the Norwegian giant is not going anywhere.
And so the saga continues. The whispers, the speculation, the dreams of Madridistas and Culers, all of it will never truly go away. Because when you are talking about a player like Haaland, there will always be rumours. There will always be stories of exit plans, of mega offers, of secret meetings. But the truth right now is simple. Haaland is City. City is Haaland. The bond is strong, the goals are flowing, and the future looks set. At least for now
