The anger in England is growing after it was decided that Manchester City has cheated and there have been a number of creative answers to what kind of punishment the club should receive. – Most agree on large fines and points deductions to varying degrees and that they must be stripped of titles. Other creative proposals are that the management and owners of the club should be sent through the streets of Manchester just like Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones. Or how about a name change? Cheating City, Regrettable City and Judas City are already on the table.
One thing is for sure, it will be difficult to keep the club together.
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The Norwegian striker is considering leaving the English club in the event of a sanction.
Erling Haaland, a 26-year-old striker from Manchester City, remains at the centre of the transfer market in England after the club was found guilty of 114 out of 115 financial charges analysed by the Premier League. The sanction is still unresolved, and City plan to appeal – so Barcelona, Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern and Arsenal emerge as possible destinations in a departure scenario, although there are currently no confirmed negotiations with either of them.
Erling Haaland has a contract with Manchester City until 2034
The first obstacle to any operation is contractual. Haaland extended from January 2025 to June 2034, in a deal that, according to Sky Sports, does not include a buyout clause. A departure will therefore not be linked to an automatic amount stipulated in the contract.
Furthermore, the striker has significant statistical weight at Manchester City. In the 2025/26 season, he scored 58 goals and put up 11 assists in 64 games – numbers that led him to become one of the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
The current sporting situation does not point to an immediate departure either. City started the Premier League with five wins in five games, and Haaland scored in the 5-3 win over Sunderland on September 20.
The outstanding sanction is the element that could change the scenario. The independent commission has found 114 offences, but the punishment has not yet been determined, and the process could continue with the club’s appeal.
Barcelona and Real Madrid – two options with reservations
Barcelona is among the options that could be considered in a future analysis, but the financial situation requires a distinction to be made between an opportunity and an actual negotiation. For the 2026/27 season, the club approved a budget with regular revenues of €1.195 billion, while maintaining a financial recovery process linked to Espai Barça.
Real Madrid also figures in the scenario due to its history of interest in Haaland. In June 2026, Manchester City even considered legal action after the then Real Madrid presidential candidate, Enrique Riquelme, publicly stated that he would sign the Norwegian if elected. The player’s contract with City until 2034 was a key element of the conflict.
PSG and Bayern complete the list of clubs mentioned as possible destinations, while Arsenal represent another option within the Premier League. Currently, there is no official confirmation of an offer for Haaland from any of these clubs, so their inclusion is a response to the market scenario and not an active deal.
Cost will also be a determining factor. Capology’s estimate currently places Haaland’s salary at around €31.96 million gross per year, although this is an estimate and not an official contract detail.
The next step will be to know the extent of the sanction against Manchester City and the outcome of their appeal. Until then, the options for Erling Haaland should be treated as market scenarios: his contract until 2034 and the absence of a public buyout clause keep him tied to the club.
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