According to reports, Erling Haaland is prepared to “divorce” from Man City since he and Pep Guardiola have a “poor atmosphere” and a “very distant” relationship.
The strong striker only recently joined Man City in the summer. His £51 million release clause was triggered in order for them to sign him away from Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund.
This season, Haaland has been in sensational goal-scoring form with the reigning Premier League champions. In just 27 games this season across all competitions, he has scored 31 goals for them.
However, others have boldly asserted that Haaland has rendered Man City weaker this season as they chase Arsenal for the title.
Guardiola’s had to modify their style for Haaland, and even while they don’t always succeed, they’re really terrifying to watch when they’re in full flow.
But according to the Spanish publication National, Haaland and Guardiola’s friendship is “beginning to shatter.”
According to the source, Guardiola is making life difficult for himself this season since “a number of players have accused him of being the main blame for the terrible atmosphere now prevailing.”
Then they make a reference to Joao Cancelo Guardiola being “weary” prior to his loan move to Bayern Munich last month. Bernardo Silva’s current plans are to leave in the upcoming months as well.
However, the “big bombshell” is that Haaland has a “very distant relationship” with Guardiola. Putting two and two together, they suspect this is because he is “very unhappy with the style of play proposed by City”.
The report adds that this “could ultimately lead to an irreconcilable divorce with Guardiola and his subsequent departure”. How dramatic.
Not surprising, National then goes on to link Haaland with Real Madrid, who are ‘very vigilant’ about his situation.
The forward’s ‘anger’ at Guardiola is ‘incredible news’ for Real Madrid as president Florentino Perez believes he is the ‘best possible successor to Karim Benzema’.
The Spanish giants could well choose to “wait patiently” until Haaland’s €200m release clause kicks in in 2024.
Last month, Ben Jacobs reported that Haaland’s release clause “can only be triggered by clubs outside the Premier League”.
“Obviously the more he succeeds the more interest he will attract but it is not true that there is a Real Madrid specific release clause and Pep Guardiola has denied this on record,” Jacobs wrote for Caught Offside.
“In fact, there is no active release clause in his contract, although things will change a bit in the summer of 2024 when a €200m release clause comes into effect, which can only be triggered by clubs outside the Premier League.
“This will also diminish the longer Haaland stays at Manchester City, but the clause doesn’t mean much – if anyone outside the Premier League wants to trigger it, ideally they still don’t want to comply with its terms.”