Sources: Erling Haaland's Man City exit plan revealed
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(Credit: Imago, Getty Images)
Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent
Sun 21 September 2025 12:18, UK
Real Madrid and Barcelona are considering ambitious moves to tempt Man City star Erling Haaland away from the Etihad in 2026.
Man City were tipped to sell Haaland during the summer window to aid in their plans to undergo a mass overhaul of Pep Guardiola‘s squad after a dismal season.
However, as I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 25-year-old is happy at Man City and has no plans to leave.
Sources say the striker remains a crucial player for Guardiola’s side and they have no intention of entertaining talks about his potential departure.
Haaland signed a remarkable nine-year contract at Man City in January to keep him at the club until 2034 and has no plans to walk away from his deal as things stand.
Credit: Imago
Football Insider revealed on 14 September that Guardiola is “desperate” to keep Haaland at Man City despite growing interest from Europe’s top clubs.
The striker has scored six goals in five games across all competitions for City so far this season, and scored five as Norway beat Moldova 11-1 earlier this month.
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Interest from the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona comes as no surprise given his stature in the game, but any deal for him to leave Man City is considered highly unlikely.
Speaking on the Inside Track podcast, I explained: “No, it’s highly unlikely.
I think he’d be a dream signing for almost any club, Haaland, and Man City are lucky enough to have him.
“He signed a new long-term contract extension last year to keep him at the Etihad until 2034, and City don’t want to lose their star man.
“We know how important he is to City with five goals in four Premier League games so far this season.
He is arguably the best striker in Europe, his figures tell you that, so City don’t want to lose him.
“But look, Haaland is a happy man.
City are happy with Haaland as well.
“So unless Haaland has a change of heart and wants to go and try something new, don’t see him leaving the Etihad Stadium anytime soon.”
Despite interest from two of Europe’s biggest clubs, the striker remains committed to Man City as he aims to help get them back to their best.
Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider last year that Haaland would not push to leave Man City despite links with a move to Spain.
Having already lost long-serving and experienced players such as Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker during the summer, there are no plans to lose another.
As part of a significant overhaul of his playing squad during the summer transfer window, Guardiola made the big call to sacrifice some of his long-serving stars.
Credit: Imago
More recently, Brown told Football Insider that Bernardo Silva could leave Man City as the next big-name star out the door amid interest from Benfica.
Former Benfica boss Bruno Lage confessed Silva would “be a Benfica player soon“ and revealed “there is a contract waiting for him” with the move already lined up.
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