BARCELONA, Spain (AP) – Real Madrid’s two presidential candidates are stepping up their campaigns, with incumbent Florentino Perez featuring new manager candidate Jose Mourinho in his promotional materials and challenger Enrique Riquelme angering Manchester City with comments about under-contracted star Erling Haaland.
The competition for the big names will take place ahead of a vote by club members on Sunday.
Director Mourinho is already lined up This will be his second appointment as Madrid manager before Perez, who is 79 years old. called for an election last month. Mourinho’s return now appears to depend on Perez’s re-election as chairman of the Spanish giants.
“MOUcha historia por hacer (“So MOUch let’s make history”),” reads the caption. Post by Perez on X, published late Wednesday, included a video of Mourinho saying “Si” (“yes”).
Mourinho, who managed Madrid from 2010 to 2013, will be his successor. Alvaro Arbeloa The club ended the season without winning a major trophy for the second year in a row.
Meanwhile, Riquelme announced his intention to lure Haaland away from City on a popular talk show late Wednesday night. The TV host held up a fake Real Madrid shirt with Haaland’s name on the back as the audience applauded.
“Haaland has a clause (in his contract) and he wants to come to Madrid,” said the 37-year-old businessman, who has built his career in renewable energy.
Riquelme also said that if selected, he would negotiate with City to sign Spanish midfielder Rodri.
City said on Thursday: “The stories coming out of Spain regarding Erling Haaland’s future are not true.
“There is no chance of this happening and there are no contractual provisions that would allow it to happen.”
City added: “We are considering legal action against the use of player images in this context.”
In January 2025, Haaland signed a new contract with City until 2034, making him one of the most lucrative contracts in football and the longest for a Premier League player. City have not released details of the buyout clause in Haaland’s contract.
City’s statement did not mention Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, whose contract expires in 2027.
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Douglas reported from Sundsvall, Sweden.
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