There are bold campaign promises and then there is whatever this was. A candidate running for Real Madrid's presidency decided the best way to drum up votes was to appear on live TV and whip out an Erling Haaland shirt, as if the Norwegian goal machine was already packing his bags for the Bernabeu. Manchester City have responded by considering legal action, and honestly, who can blame them.
The whole thing is a bit farcical when you think about it. Presidential candidates at football clubs love making grand promises they may never keep, but usually they stick to things like new stadiums, cheaper tickets or vague talk about returning the club to its glory days. Unveiling the shirt of someone else's contracted player on national television is a different level entirely. It is the kind of stunt that was always going to get lawyers involved.
Haaland has been absolutely unstoppable since he arrived in the Premier League, and of course Real Madrid want him. Every club on the planet with half a brain would want him. But wanting someone and parading their shirt around on TV like you have already done the deal are very different things. City have invested a huge amount in building their squad around Haaland and they are not going to sit quietly while someone in Madrid uses his image as a vote-winning prop.
From a legal standpoint, City have a reasonable argument. Using a player's likeness to suggest a transfer is happening when it is not could cause all sorts of commercial and contractual headaches. It is not just about pride, there is real business at stake here.
As a United fan, it gives a certain pleasure watching City get annoyed about something for once, but fairness has to come first. City are completely right to push back on this. Haaland is their player, he is under contract, and some bloke running for office in Spain does not get to decide otherwise just because it makes good television.
Real Madrid as a club have not exactly covered themselves in glory by allowing this circus to play out either. Someone needed to shut it down a lot sooner.
Let me know your thoughts.